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THE 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY 



Milton M. Fisher 



MEDWAY, MASS 



CONCORD, N. H.: 

THE RUMFORD PRESS, 

1902. 



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CONTENTS 



Introduction . 
Chapter I. — Ancestry 
Chapter II. — Family .... 
Chapter III. — Anti-slavery Record . 
Chapter IV. — Current Life 
Chapter V. — Miscellaneous Services 
Chapter VI. — Honorable Mention . 
Chapter VII. — Addenda 



5 

7 
jo 

18 

50 
61 
67 

74 



INTRODUCTION. 



Persons who have lived long, broad, active, and achieving lives, 
have stored up a vast amount of experimental knowledge, which is of 
great value to posterity. The intelligent veteran of a crusade has a 
bird's-eye view of the causes that led up to the conflict, an inside 
knowledge of the tactics of the campaign, painful memories of 
strategic blunders, grateful reminiscences of advances made and 
held, and a joyous enthusiasm over the final victory. It is the delight 
of the old soldier, gray-haired and crippled though he be, " to shoul- 
der his crutch, and show how fields were won," and the recital of 
exploits concerning which one can say like Virgil's hero, "All of 
which I saw, and a great part of which I was, 1 ' is a tonic for the slug- 
gish "blood of a self-indulgent generation. The world loses something 
when the aged person, who has been an important factor in the 
making of history, says, for the last time, " I remember. " An auto- 
biography preserves to posterity the incidents and details of critical 
events that would otherwise perish with the last breath of the author ; 
this justifies its publication. 

The influence of the life of Milton M. Fisher, the author of this 
book, has made itself manifest in diverse undertakings. His life 
has not only had unusual length, it has had bulk and momentum. 
Its impact and push have been felt in various directions. He has 
truly served his generation, and in these pages tells somewhat of that 
service. 

In the retrospect he feels that the most important work of his life 
was in connection with the movement for the abolition of American 
slavery, and that the accomplishment of this object was the greatest 
achievement of the last century. Born and reared in an atmosphere of 
antagonism to this gigantic wrong, he was among the first to enroll 
himself among its persistent opponents. Later in comradeship with 
those of kindred purpose whom Whittier called "the Old Anti- 
slavery Guard," he joined in the thick of the fight, which finally 
resulted in a grand victory. He has lived to see a generation pass 
since slavery was abolished. All his early comrades have vanished 
from the sight of men, and he, the sole survivor, in his ninety-second 
year, tells his story. May it stimulate others to champion the many 
social and moral reforms, for which the twentieth century is respon- 
sible. 

RUFUS K. HARLOW. 

Medway, May i, 1902. 




Burke's (general Ctrmory recorbs ^ Coats of Ctrms 
for tfye ^isfyers in \8 Counties of (gnglanfr, 9 being in 
s£onbon. (£acb, biffereb from tbe otfyer, but many were 
similar to tfy> abope, wfycty was useb by tfye first ^isfyers 
in Debfyam, ZtTass., 1637. Upon goob authority it is like 
tfyat of tfje Dauphin of prance, beir=apparent of tfy> throne. 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 



CHAPTER I. 

ANCESTRY. 

The family name of the principal subject of this biography 
being that of a very common occupation, is found in the ver- 
nacular of many peoples. 

Jn France it is Pecheur ; in old English, Fyshire ; in Dutch, 
Visscher; German, Fischer, and in modern English, Fisher. 
The first name in English known to the writer was that of one 
of the' Generals of William the Conqueror, 1066, "Osborne Le 
Pecheur" from Normandy, a French province. After the con- 
quest he was rewarded with crown lands in Bedfordshire, where 
a hamlet has borne the name of " Fisher" on early maps. In 
Burks Heraldry the name Osborne and Fisher are allied in 
their coats of arms by a dolphin upon their shields, in French 
"Dauphine," each significant of a fish by that name. 

There is another historical incident of ancient date. The 
coat of arms of the Count of Dauphiny, a province of France, 
is exactly like that used by many Fishers in England and of 
the first emigrants to Dedham, Mass., in 1637. 

The last count of the province bestowed his titles and estates 
upon the crown of France on the condition that the heir appa- 
rent should take the title of " Dauphin," which history con- 
firms, and the " arms are now exhibited in the museum at the 
Hotel De'Cluny in Paris, and described by Col. Horace N. 
Fisher of Boston in a recent visit." 

John Fysher, cardinal and bishop of Rochester, beheaded 
by order of Henry VIII, had the same coat of arms with the 
motto, " I will make you to become Fishers of men." 

The first emigrant to New England, Thomas Fisher from 
Winston, England, Suffolk county, settled in Cambridge in 
1634, and removed to Dedham in 1637, after the arrival of 



8 

Anthony 2 and family with three nephews, being grandsons of 
Anthony 1 from Syleham, England, a few miles from Winston. 
He was followed in 1640 by his son Joshua and family, in all 
consisting of nineteen persons. Another emigrant came from 
the north of Ireland in 1675. He was a single man, and vol- 
untarily agreed with others to have the matter determined by 
lot who should give himself for food to a shipwrecked and 
starving crew, — the lot fell, but relief came. From these twenty 
persons the many thousands bearing the name of Fisher in this 
country, with few exceptions in later years, trace their lineage. 

The subject of this memoir, through his grandfather, Joseph, 
descends from Anthony 1 of Syleham and Susan, his grand- 
mother, wife of Joseph, from Thomas 1 , the emigrant from Wins- 
ton — both lines probably from an original stock not yet traced. 

Willis Fisher of Franklin, Mass., the second son of Joseph, 
married February 10, 18 10, Caroline Fairbanks, a descendant 
of Jonathan of Dedham, and Milton Metcalf Fisher, their 
oldest son, was born January 30, 181 1, in Franklin, Mass. 

In the same line from Thomas 1 the Hon. Jabez Fisher 4 of 
Franklin, the father of Susan, by twenty-two years of public 
services in the colonial and state governments between 1766 
and 1798, obtained the highest official distinction of any in 
this line. As a representative, a councilor with executive 
functions for several years, a member of two provincial con- 
gresses two years, and delegate to conventions to accept or 
reject the constitution of the United States, he held an honor- 
able position, as the public records confirm. (See later the 
testimony of Hon. Theron Metcalf.) 

In the line of Anthony Fisher the Hon. Fisher Ames, son of 
Deborah Fisher of Dedham, in the first and second congress 
of the states, became distinguished as an orator and statesman. 
Declining further service he was elected president of Harvard 
university, but failing in health declined tjie honor, and at 
fifty years of age died greatly lamented. In the line of Caro- 
line Fairbanks, wife of Willis Fisher, through four Johns, I am 
found in the ninth generation from Jonathan Fairbanks. 

He was an emigrant to Boston with his brother Richard 
in 1633, making his home in Dedham in 1636. His house, 




Willis Fjsher. 

My Father. 




Caroline (Fairbanks) Fisher. 

My Mother. 



with additions, is still standing, and has recently been bought 
by the Daughters of the Revolution. 

There were two descendants from Jonathan by the name of 
Asa, both captains in the War of the Revolution. The senior 
Asa, with many others of the family name, served in the Colo- 
nial and French wars. 

Six sons of Lorenzo Fairbanks were in the Union army in 
the Civil War. " Sir " Thaddeus Fairbanks, of world-wide fame 
as inventor of the Fairbanks scale, was of this family. 

Willis Fisher, the second son of Joseph and Susan, was born 
July 20, 1782, in Franklin, having as brothers Eliab (the eldest), 
Maxy, George, Herman, and Joseph who died young ; as sisters 
Susan, Nancy, Julia, and Clarissa, in all ten children. 

His father was a carpenter and farmer, and put all his sons 
early to some trade or employment, and at ten years of age 
Willis went to live with Ensign Joseph Hawes, a farmer near 
his home. He matured early in physical strength, and fitted 
himself for a teacher in the public schools, and ultimately be- 
came an expert in the higher mathematics and surveying. In 
one of his schools he had as a pupil Caroline Fairbanks, whom 
he afterwards married, as previously mentioned. The writer 
was the eldest child of this marriage. 

My father served upon all the executive boards of the town, 
was a representative to the general court, active in the new 
system of railroads from Boston to Lowell, Worcester, and Prov- 
idence, and later was head petitioner for the Norfolk County 
railroad (afterwards merged into the New York & New Eng- 
land) of which he was one of the early directors. He was also 
an original advocate for temperance and the abolition of slavery. 
He died January 1, 1866, aged eighty-two years. A local writer 
says of him, "As a magistrate, town officer, or private citizen, 
he was conscientious and inflexible in all his ideas, never 
swerving from the path of duty. A kind husband and father, 
a safe counselor and friend." 

My brothers and sisters were as follows : George Perkins, 
Abigail Bacon, Charles Willis, Caroline Fairbanks, Ellen Mar- 
cia, who are all dead, and Julia Francis, who married Rufus 
Chapin and now lives in Chicago, 111. 



CHAPTER K. 

FAMILY. 

Eleanor Metcalf, who became the wife of Milton M. Fisher,, 
was born in Medway, September i, 1813. She was the eldest 
daughter of the Hon. Luther and Lydia (Jenks) Metcalf. 
From the Medway Town History these items respecting her 
father are gathered. 

Luther Metcalf was the son of M'aj. Luther Metcalf (a lineal 
descendant of Michael Metcalf of Dedham who emigrated to 
this country from Tatterford, Norfolk county, England, in 1637, 
and was the son of Rev. Leonard Metcalf, rector of the parish 
of Tatterford). He was born May2, 1788, in Medway, educated 
in the local schools, and at Day's Academy in Wrentham. He 
was a manufacturer of cabinet products, then of cotton 
machinery. For many years he was owner of a large cotton 
mill in Medway, agent and for a time president of the Nor- 
folk Insurance Company, served in town offices many years, 
was a member of the Massachusetts house of representatives 
and a senator, voted sixty-nine times for governor of the state, 
was president of the Charles River Railroad Company, a large 
real estate owner, a man of fixed and regular habits, an orig- 
inal member of the evangelical Congregational parish of Med- 
way and later on joined the village church. He was married, 
first, to Lydia Jenks, May 12, 1812, who died December 16, 
1826, leaving four children, — a daughter, Eleanor, and three 
sons, Stephen, Whiting, and Luther, all deceased. He next 
married Sarah B. Phipps, January 14, 1828, by whom he had 
a son, George, and a daughter, Sarah, who became the wife 
of the Rev. Samuel Spaulding, D. D., of Newburyport. 

Mr. Metcalf died February 16, 1879, m tne 9 ist vear °* ^ s 
age. 



II 

Lydia Jenks, the mother of Eleanor Metcalf, was born in 
Pawtucket, R. I., May 13, 1793. Herfatherwas Maj. Stephen 
Jenks, a manufacturer in Pawtucket. He was a lineal descend- 
ant of Joseph Jenks, an emigrant from Buckinghamshire, 
England, to Lynn, Mass., who later settled in Providence, R. I. 
His eldest son, Joseph 2 , w T as for five years an ambassador for 
the colony to England, five years governor of the colony, de- 
clining further service on account of his age. The other sons 
of Joseph were Nathaniel, Ebenezer, pastor of the first Baptist 
church in Providence, William, a judge, and Stephen, as above 
mentioned. 

Mrs. Eleanor (Metcalf) Fisher by birth inherited social 
standing which her rare natural endowments and subsequent 
culture well sustained. The following tribute, written by a 
friend after her decease, justly describes her character and 
life : 

At the tender age of 13, she entered the academy at West Brook- 
field and early qualified herself for a teacher, an occupation that she 
successfully pursued in the towns of Holliston and Bellingham. She 
afterwards studied the higher English branches, and availed herself of 
such opportunities for securing a knowledge of the French language as 
the times afforded, studying in the classical school taught in Medway 
by Rev. A. R. Baker. She was afterward an assistant in a classical 
school taught by Daniel Forbes in West Medway. - 

In 1830 she made a profession of religion and united with the 
Second Congregational church of Medway, being the only person 
admitted that year. 

On the return of Mr. and Mrs. Fisher to Medway from Westbor- 
ough, in 1840, they both united with the village church. 

She was the mother of nine children, four of whom with nine grand- 
children survive her. 

Some twenty-five years before her death (which occurred March 13, 
1885, at the age of 70 years, 7 months, and 12 days), her health 
failed, and losing strength year by year soon became a confirmed 
invalid. 

During all these years her literary tastes, which were of a very high 
and discriminating order, survived, and the freshest and most valuable 
books from the public library have been read by her with undimin- 
ished relish. She was also deeply interested in current public events, 
and followed their development very closely. R. K. H. 



12 

Mrs. Sarah (Phipps) Metcalf, the second wife of Hon. Luther 
Metcalf, was born in Framingham, Mass., November 25, 1803. 

She received her education at the academy in her native town, 
and began her work as teacher in Portland, Maine, in which 
she was specially successful. In 1827 she taught a school in 
Medway village, where she made the acquaintance of Mr. 
Metcalf, which resulted in their marriage, as above stated. She 
was a true mother to her own and her foster children. 

With a large family upon a large farm, including dairy work, 
and the management of hired laborers in the domestic and 
farm work, her cares and responsibilities were great for many 
years, but she discharged them with signal ability and skill. 
She was a true helpmeet to her husband through the infirmi- 
ties of extreme age, even to his death, which was hastened 
by a fall from a chair on which he was standing. 

After his death she remained in the homestead until the 
death of her home associate, "Aunt" Eliza Fisher, who died 
at the age of 89 years ; then, as her own strength was 
yielding to the infirmities of age, although clear in mind and 
thought, she spent her winters with her son, George P. Metcalf, 
in Framingham, and in the summer returned to the Metcalf 
homestead. Later on she remained in Framingham altogether 
till her death, February 23, 1897, at the age of 93 years, 2 
months, and 26 days, which was occasioned by an accident 
similar to that which ended the life of her husband. 

Mrs. Metcalf, by her usefulness manifested in many ways, 
sustained a high social position during her protracted life both 
in Medway and in her native town. Her personal interest and' 
pecuniary assistance abounded in many private necessities and 
in numerous social and public improvements. In the Ladies' 
Benevolent Society, for their general work at home and mis- 
sions abroad, she was interested and helpful. 

Especial mention should be made of her successful initiative 
work in founding the Dean Library, an institution whose educa- 
tive influence on the lives of multitudes in the past and in the 
future cannot be estimated. This record of her good works is 
due to her as a memorial, and her example should be an inspir- 
ation to all who would live either to get or do good. Her 



13 

funeral was held in the Metcalf mansion and all that remains 
of its former occupant rests in the family lot in Oakland cem- 
etery, for the perpetual care of which ample provision has been 
made by the survivors of her family. 

Fisher, Theodore Willis, physician, was born in Westboro* 
Mass., May 29, 1837, son of Milton Metcalf and Eleanor (Met- 
calf) Fisher. Our subject's youth was passed aNMedway. He 
prepared for college at Williston seminary and Phillips academy, 
entering Harvard Medical School in 1858, graduating in medi- 
cine in 1 86 1. He was resident physician at Deer Island for a 
year after graduation, then surgeon of the 44th regiment, Mas- 
sachusetts Volunteer Militia, for nine months. In 1863 he was 
appointed assistant physician to the Boston lunatic hospital, 
resigning in 1869. In 1867 he spent five months abroad visit- 
ing nearly all the hospitals for the insane in Great Britain and 
many on the continent, including Gheel, in Belgium. His 
studies for hospital construction were embodied in the plan for 
a new insane hospital for Boston which was built at Danvers 
in i869-'7i. From i87i-'8i he was examining physician to 
the board of directors of public institutions of Boston, prac- 
tising also as an insanity expert. He was frequently called 
into court and was a witness for the defence in the celebrated 
Guiteau case. He was appointed superintendent of the Bos- 
ton Insane Hospital in 188 1, resigning in 1895, since which 
time he has been practising his specialty on the Back Bay, 
Boston. He again visited Europe in 1891 and attended the 
International Medical Conference in Berlin. On his return to 
America he planned another hospital for the insane of Boston, 
on the cottage plan, which was built by the city at Austin and 
Pierce farms. For seventeen years Dr. Fisher lectured before 
the medical students at Harvard on insanity, and has written 
many papers on the subject. He has been a member of the 
International Medical Conference, i887-'9o, member of the 
American Medical society, American Medico Psychological 
society, president of the New England Psychological society, 
councilor of the Massachusetts Medical society, Harvard 
Medical Alumni, and 44th Regiment association. He has 
been twice married; in 1838 to Maria C, daughter of Dr. Ar- 



temas Brown of Medway, who died July 28, i860. In 1873, 
he married Ella G., daughter of J. W. Richardson of Boston. 

Their children are, — 

Willis R., born February 13, 1875. He graduated at the 
Boston English high school in 1893, having taken the Franklin 
medal, and serving as lieutenant in the school regiment. He 
graduated from Harvard college in the class of 1897 with the 
degree of A. B., magna cum laude — having done the required 
four years' Work in three. He has since been salesman and 
office manager in the office of the A. C. Lawrence Leather com- 
pany, who are tanners and selling agents for Swift & Com- 
pany of Chicago, and June 19, 1902, married Alice Chester 
Nichols. 

Edward M. was born June 21, 1877. He graduated from 
the English high school in 1894, having served as major in the 
school regiment. Since that year he has been" employed by 
the old established Boston firm of J. A. & W. Bird & Co., 
wholesale dealers in dyestuffs and chemicals. He has trav- 
eled extensively for the firm, introducing certain patented ma- 
terials used in the completion of large buildings. He was 
married, January 29, 1902, to Miss Anna Esther Brigham, a 
teacher in the Boston public schools. They live at Richmond 
Court, Beacon street, Brookline. 

Gertrude was born January 28, 1885, graduated at the 
Prince school, Newbury street, and is attending the Girls' Latin 
school. 

Florence was born April 12, 1887, graduated at the Prince 
school, and attends the Girls' Latin school. 

Margery was born October 22, 1888, graduated at the 
Prince school, and attends the Girls' Latin school. 

Mary Eleanor Fisher, eldest daughter of Milton M. and 
Eleanor (Metcalf) Fisher, born December 5, 1844. She was ed- 
ucated, above the district school, at Wheaton Female Seminary 
at Norton, and graduated at Dr. Gannet's Classical institution 
at Boston, was for some years a private teacher in German, 
French, and music, and later has presided over the home of 
her father in Medway. 



is 

Miss Mary is well endowed mentally, is a fine scholar in 
French and German, has a discriminating judgment in litera- 
ture which has made her of much value as librarian in Dean 
library — a poetic sense that has often been brought into use 
for various village functions and never without commendable 
results. The following poem, with great reluctance, she has 
allowed to appear in this volume : 

POEM BY MARY E. FISHER. 

THE BELLS. 



NOT BY POE. 



-Hear the whistles and the bells ! 

Medway bells ! 
What a day of industry their morning noise foretells 
As they jangle, jangle, jangle 
On the startled air; 
How their jingle, jar, and jangle 
Disturbs the mystic tangle 
Of your dreams so fair ! 
Calling, work, work, work ! 

Labor do not shirk ! 
To your mills and shops repair when the morning chorus swells 
Of the whistles and the bells, 
Bells, bells; 
The jargon of the whistles and the bells. 

Hear the merry morning bells ! 

Factory bells ! 
What a day of industry their merriment foretells ! 
At the busy, busy loom, 
But not in dirt and gloom ; 
For every workman's heart, 
With the engine throbs and thrills, 
As he goes to take a part 
In your rich and varied art, 

Sanford mills. 
Oh, from the factory bells, 
What a gush of melody ecstatically swells ! 
Through the dells, 



i6 

Of the future tells, 
And the past recalls, 
By the dashing waterfalls ! 
Our mills of wool and cotton, 
They can never be forgotten, 
When we hear the factory bells, 
Bells, bells, 
The rhyming and the chiming of the bells. 

How the workshop whistle yells, 
Yes, it yells, 
What a tale of harmony the seeming discord tells ! 
For, like to Orpheus 1 lyre, 
It draws with notes of fire, 
From the hamlet 'round, 
The servants of Queen Straw ; 
Long live her gracious law ! 
But still resounds the chorus, 
Of whistles screeching o'er us, 
That hoarsely seem to sing, 
Leather now is king ! 
More palaces we build him as the tide of business swells, 
Yes, the tide of business swells, 

Swells, swells, 
Amid the screaming whistles and the bells. 

What a day of rest and peace their jubilee foretells ! 
All silent now the mill ; 
Its throbbing pulse is still. 
But the Christian's heart will beat 
With the rapture none can tell, 
As he turns his willing feet 
To obey your summons sweet, 

Chiming bell ! 

Oh, the voice of Sabbath bells, 
With wave on wave of harmony majestically swells, 
While it tells, — 
To the world it tells,— 
" Your splendor fades away, 
You toil but for a day ; 
Then list the old, old story, 
Eternal is its glory ! " 



i7 

Oh, heed the Sabbath bells ! 

Bells, bells ! 
The repeating, soft entreating of the bells. 

Frederick L. Fisher, son of Milton and Eleanor Fisher, was 
born in Medway. January 12, 1853. He graduated from the 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the class of 1873. 
He married, May 23, 1876, Caroline P. Lyon, daughter of 
George and Sally Barber Lyon of Boston. She was born August 
22, 1851, in Boston. Their only child, Harriet Lyon Fisher, was 
born August 23, 1880. She graduated from Radcliffe college 
in the class of 1902 with the degree of A. B., cum laude. 

Mr. Fisher is engaged in the insurance business, having 
offices in Boston and Medway, and was for eleven years treas- 
urer of the Medway Savings bank, resigning in 1897 to give 
entire time to his chosen business. 

Helen Frances (Fisher) Hawkes, born in Medway, May 12, 
1854, was educated at the district and high schools at Med- 
way and the State Normal school at Framingham, after which 
she taught in the public schools. She married Walter V. 
Hawkes, October 26, 1876, who purchased and worked for a 
time a large farm in Amherst, Mass., after the sale of which 
he removed to Cliftondale. This property he also sold advan- 
tageously, investing in land in the new city of Harriman, Tenn., 
erecting the first house in the city. He was active in the 
development of the place, and in bank and official relations 
till the wave of depression that swept over that whole region 
reduced values in Harriman, when Mr. Hawkes returned to 
the East, and is at present in possession of a large farm in 
Medway and Franklin. 

Their family consists of two sons and a daughter, viz., (1) Mil- 
ton A. Hawkes, born at Amherst, September 9, 1877, educated 
at the American University in Harriman, now engaged in gen- 
eral electric work in Lynn, Mass.; (2) Louise, born January 13, 
1 88 1, at Amherst, educated at the American University, Har- 
riman, and (3) Ernest, iDorn May 13, 1884, at Saugus, Mass., 
at present (1902) a student in the Medway high school, in the 

classical course. 

2 



CHAPTER III. 

"THE GREAT CONFLICT." 

— Whit tier. 

[A narrative of my participation in the great agitation against 
American slavery, which was begun January i, 1831, by William 
Lloyd Garrison in the first number of his paper, The Liberator, 
and continued until slavery was legally abolished.] 

From boyhood, in my Franklin home, I had no prejudice 
against the negro race. My father was guardian for a thrifty 
man of color owning a small farm in the neighborhood. For 
him I often worked as a plough-boy, and dined with him. 
I knew others of the race who were well educated and 
respected. 

My father, an intelligent farmer, a great reader and teacher 
in his early manhood, read The Messenger, a Boston paper 
edited by Nathan Hale, father of the celebrated preacher, 
Edward Everett Hale, of Boston. Through this medium we 
knew of Garrison's Baltimore experience in 1828— '29, and his 
jail delivery by a rich New York merchant, Arthur Tappan, 
and of his paper, the Boston Liberator, issued in 1831. We 
were in entire sympathy with him, and in his cooperation with 
others in the organization of the New England Antislavery 
society in January, 1832, and the American society the next 
year, also in the immortal declaration of sentiment in connec- 
tion therewith at Philadelphia in December 5-6, 1833. 

Following the publication of The Liberator of January, 1831, 
I was continuing my education, in preparation for college, at 
a classical school in Medway, and was appointed to deliver an 
oration at its graduating exercises in Dr. Ide's church, in July, 
1831. My subject was " National Evils." I chose the poetic 
form, and after enumerating intemperance and other smaller 
matters, with criticisms on the national administration, I 




> 2 
§ o 

ft - 



J 9 

closed with forty lines on the treatment of the American 
Indians and the worse bondage of the African slaves. The 
last four lines represent what precedes, as follows : 

Oh, Christian men! will not your prayers ascend 
That God would be the Red Man's friend? 
Oh, Freemen ! let not your hearts e'er cease to bleed 
Till Afric's sons are from their shackles freed. 

After pursuing my education at Day's academy, Wrentham, 
in 183 1 and 1832, I taught a classical school in Randolph, 
having an assistant and forty pupils, twenty in Latin, of whom 
twelve graduated from college, four in each of the professions 
— only two of whom are now living. Later I delivered a 
lecture' on slavery in the town. In the meantime I heard 
a lecture on slavery, in Franklin, by Arnold Buffum, a Qua- 
ker and president of the New England Antislavery society, and 
joined the society, as an auxiliary, in Franklin. Subsequently 
I was appointed a delegate to the American society, which met 
in New York, May 5 and 6, 1834. I entered Amherst college 
in September, 1832. Having had a previous acquaintance with 
Rev. Moses Thatcher, editor of the Boston Telegraph, a paper 
that was both religious and strong antislavery, I obtained 
copies, which I distributed as an agent on my way to Amherst. 
At Amherst I found about sixty negroes, residents of the 
town, in whom I became much interested, and, with another 
student, held for their benefit an evening religious and teach- 
ing service, for both old and young, as they had been much 
neglected by the citizens. At college I was assigned to one 
of the class societies, the " Social Union," and wrote essays 
and read them in our meetings, urging the claims of the 
African race for education and freedom from bondage as 
slaves. During leisure hours among the students we had 
sharp discussions on the slavery question. In the closing 
term of the year, the students of all classes were called to the 
chapel for declamation by the professor of rhetoric. I was 
selected as one of the speakers from the Freshman class. No 
subject or stated time was assigned me. I chose an essay on 
the slavery question — chiefly on the policy of colonization and 



20 

emancipation — the latter I defended as a justice to the slave 
and the duty of the master. The essay was original with me, 
and afterwards I incorporated it in an address of sixty pages, 
together with printed extracts, which I have delivered several 
times in the state, and once in New York state. (I have these 
papers yet.) 

As I was about to close speaking, the professor, who sat be- 
side me, arose, much excited, and said, •" Young man, you have 
spoken over your time, and besides, the piece was not author- 
ized.'" I bowed gracefully and retired to my seat. There were 
eleven sons of the South in the college at that time. 

I was reported to the faculty by the professor for discipline, 
but a wise man, no less than Dr. Edward Hitchcock, acting 
president, said with decision, " The least said, the soonest 
mended." Afterwards the question was allowed discussion in 
the college societies until it was said a majority were for eman- 
cipation. Henry Ward Beecher was in the Junior class, while 
his father was the principal of Lane seminary in Cincinnati, 
Ohio. Later Mrs. H. W. Beecher wrote the Ladies' Home 
Journal that Henry then and there became an " abolitionist " 
as the result of that discussion. The professor of rhetoric I 
met soon after the chapel incident, and his marked courtesy 
to me, and ever after, made ample apology for his hasty inter- 
ruption on the stage. Only two witnesses of this incident are 
now living — Rev. Edmund Dowse, D. D., of Sherborn, now 
eighty-eight years old, and Rev. John H. Garman, of North 
Orange, ninety-one, an age which I attained January 30, 1902, 
eighteen days later than he. 

Though not a graduate of Amherst, in due time an honora- 
ble degree of A. M. was conferred upon me, with permission 
to place a marble clock in the college chapel, with name of the 
donor, to mark the time when a Freshman may declaim without 
interruption by the professor. I have attended several gradu- 
ation days at Amherst, and a platform seat h^s been assigned 
me. 

After this incident, and to improve my health, which too 
close attention to study, without the gymnastics now enjoyed 
at colleges, had impaired, 1 obtained the certificate as dele- 



21 

gate to the first American Anti-slavery society meeting in New 
York, May 5 and 6, 1834, and extended my trip to the South, 
to see what I might of slavery, and for confirmation of the 
views I entertained, if possible. So, procuring a team and an 
associate, I supplied myself with agencies, antislavery papers, 
books, tracts, etc., to utilize for expenses on our journey, and 
started from my father's, April 21, and reached Slatersville, 
R. I., at night. Four pages in the diary kept, and the first 
entry of the sales, tell the story of the evening and the morn- 
ing of the first day, — of two invalids and what they accom- 
plished. This is a sample of our journey for many days. 

Passing on through Gloucester and Killingly, in Connecti- 
cut, we arrived in Brooklyn, the shire town of Windham 
county, and were there the guests for a time of the Rev. 
Samuel J. May, of whom I had known and heard as an able 
temperance advocate. He patronized our periodicals, and we 
called upon the venerable George Benson, then president of 
the New England Antislavery society. We hoped to meet 
Mr. Garrison at Mr. Benson's house, as Mr. May told us he 
was about to be married to one of Mr. Benson's daughters, 
but they had just left in a carriage. 

Abolition friends whom I had met urged me to call and 
cheer up Miss Prudence Crandall, who had established a 
school for young colored women in Canterbury, four miles from 
Brooklyn. She favored us with a special session of her school 
of twenty-five pupils, whose marked progress excelled in many 
respects that of any school I had taught in my ten terms of 
service, and of many others I had witnessed. 

Under the " black laws " of Connecticut at that time a se- 
rious attempt had been made by a prominent citizen of the 
town to break up the school, but without success. We found 
in every place evidence of increasing interest in the great 
movement on the slavery question, and desire for the tracts 
and books we had with us. At Middletown I called upon Mr. 
S. P. Dole, to whom I was introduced in Mr. Garrison's office 
at Boston some weeks before. ' He conducted me to the house 
of Mr. Edwin A. Stillman, one of the four signers from Con- 
necticut of the Philadelphia Declaration of fifty-nine persons 



22 

from nine states of the Union as the basis for justifiable action 
against American slavery, done in December, 1833. These 
gentlemen welcomed us to the city, and went with us through 
the college and other places of interest. 

Reaching Hartford on the 28th day of April, at night, there 
was a snowfall of five or six inches at the same time the peach 
trees were in blossom. 

Passing on through several towns we reached New Haven, 
and through the courtesy of a former Amherst student we saw 
all of special interest (which was very great) in all the col- 
lege departments. Continuing our course through Stamford, 
Bridgeport, and Norwalk we reached the great metropolis, 
New York, on the 5th of May, 1834, and were kindly enter- 
tained for a week in the family of my own kindred. The 
meeting of the society was held in the old Tabernacle church 
and was opened with prayer by Rev. Cyrus P. Grosvenor. 
Prof. Elizur Wright- read his first report, Messrs, Pomeroy, 
Peets, A. A. Phelps, Beriah Green, Rev. Drs. Cox and Ludlow, 
Mr. Garrison, Capt. Charles A. Stewart, James A. Thome of 
Kentucky, whose address, speaking from a lifelong acquaint- 
ance with slavery and the son of a slaveholder, was most 
vociferously applauded ; Robert Purvis, a colored gentleman, 
and others, took part in the public exercises. A large delega- 
tion was present from Philadelphia and a great impulse was 
given to the cause. 

The Colonization society, R. R. Gurley, secretary, also held 
a meeting which I attended. Dr. Bethune, looking down upon 
the elite of the city before him, ridiculed the speech of Dr. 
Ludlow (who had predicted the dissolution of the Colonization 
scheme) and said, "If this society be dead, it is the most 
beautiful corpse I ever beheld, or else it has had a glorious 
resurrection like that mentioned by the poet : 

" On the cold cheek of Death, smiles and ros^s are blending, 
And Beauty immortal awakes from the tomb.'' 1 

History soon confirmed the prophetic insight of Dr. Ludlow. 
As ex-President John Quincy Adams said, "The colonization 
scheme is a 'Janus-faced' idol, facing both north and south." 



23 

Leaving New York I passed on to attend other similar meet- 
ings in Philadelphia. On our way through Trenton and Prince- 
ton we visited the college and arrived in Philadelphia, the 
City of Brotherly Love ; visited Independence Hall, the Mint, 
and all conspicuous places, and attended an antislavery meet- 
ing addressed by several who had spoken at New York, and 
others. The meeting was large, but half composed of Quakers 
and negroes. In our progress South we came to Oxford, 
in Maryland, Saturday, and called upon Rev. J. M. Dicky, 
and showing our Yankee credentials he insisted upon our be- 
ing his guests for Sunday. He went four miles to preach in 
the woods, and we in our team followed him. 

This was our first reception in a slaveholding state, but we 
had not yet seen a slave. The roads were narrow through 
woods destitute of leaves which had been devoured by the 
17-year locusts. Few houses and no thrift were to be seen 
anywhere for miles. Two years before, many slaves had run 
away. At length we stopped at an inn and met a traveler, who, 
being opposed to slavery, bought several antislavery books, 
and we gave him more small sheets which he promised to read 
and circulate. At Bellair a slaveholder was free to converse 
on the subject, while several slaves stood near us. At Ab- 
ingdon I encountered another slaveholder owning eight slaves. 
We had a long argument with him on slavery and he fairly ac- 
knowledged the better argument was against slavery. He would 
read and lend anything I left with him. These are samples of 
many such talks in Maryland. We arrived in Baltimore. May 
29, visited all that is attractive to Yankee curiosity, and passed 
on to Washington. June 2 visited the capitol, congress being 
in session ; saw all the members and called upon our repre- 
sentative, Hon. William Jackson, of Newton, an early and able 
abolitionist, who pointed out officials and prominent men whom 
I had not seen — Henry Clay, Calhoun, and others ; Van Buren 
presided in the senate; Webster, Adams, and Everett I knew. 
Mr. Jackson presented me to General Jackson at the White 
House, with whom I had conversation, and on leaving we met 
on the street David Crockett, the famous coon hunter of Ken- 
tucky, with complexion as fine and hair as long as the ladies 



H 

wear. After visiting the government offices I sought and found 
the infamous slave pen of William Roby. It was a square lot 
with a high fence about it, and some cabins within. I called on 
the gatekeeper but could not get into the pen. The keeper 
was a slave of some intelligence. I learned through him in 
co?ifidence that the domestic slave trade was then very great, 
and many negroes were bought by dealers in Virginia and 
Maryland for the Southern market, one or more at a time, and 
brought here either for sale as domestics or to be sent South 
in droves to be sold, as cattle and swine are sold in the North. 
When a drover had enough for a drove the men were arranged 
in two lines, a chain between them, and each was made fast to 
the chain, and the women and children were at liberty to follow. 
After the cofrle gang had started the drover rode on horseback, 
and so they moved on to Georgia ; the men were often beaten 
severely and others starved. Their food was chiefly poor 
soup. Young city men frequently spent part of the night with 
the slave women. Later on, going through Alexandria, the 
streets we traveled were so little used that the grass grew be- 
tween the paving stones, and passing into the state of Virginia 
fields of corn were of stunted growth, the land worn up and 
unproductive even to the gate house of Mont Vernon. Negro 
houses were on each side of the way up to near the mansion. 
Calling at one house, I found a slave women and a few young 
children. She had had ten or more; five had been sold to 
Georgia by the owner of the estate, Judge Bushrod Wash- 
ington. She had never heard from them after they were sold. 
She mourned her loss much. I passed up to the garden and 
found the old gardener, a free negro of much intelligence, and 
a strong abolitionist who said he had talked freely for emanci- 
pation with members of congress who came to visit the place. 
He said Bushrod was a hard master, but he preferred slavery 
to being sent back to Africa. This closes my personal con- 
tact with slavery, and my hatred of^ the system grows stronger 
than when I left home in April. 

Leaving Washington we pushed on to Fredericktown, thence 
to Williamsport in Pennsylvania on the Potomac river, thence 
up the river and entered New York state. At Painted Post, 



finding friends there, I delivered my antislavery address to a 
good audience in the church. Started for Oswego through 
Buffalo via Niagara Falls and made our way through the old 
battle-fields into Canada, my .associate with the team going 
home. After three weeks' visit with an uncle I bought a colt 
and rode upon him to Franklin, and arrived Aug. 29, 1834, after 
a journey (as we traveled) of about 2,000 miles. On my journey 
home I called upon Rev. Beriah Green, a distinguished aboli- 
tionist, president of Oneida institute, New York, whom I met 
and heard May 5. 

Later in the autumn I contracted a fever such as I had in 
boyhood, and on recovery found myself restored with strength 
for teaching school and for active business in a country store 
for a year in Franklin, removing thence to Westboro, March 
1, 1836. 

A residence and business life in this prosperous town were 
fruitful in some controversy and good results. An antislavery 
society was soon formed by a few of its best citizens, though 
not in harmony with some prominent men including the pastor 
of the old church and the village lawyer. It so happened that 
the postmaster was secretary and myself an executive of the 
new society. The secretary was not pleased with the post- 
office and resigned. I was solicited to have a petition circu- 
lated for myself. A prominent and popular man also had a 
petition for the same office. After the canvass the citizens 
were about equally divided, many very indifferent as to which 
man or place was selected. The petitions were sent to 
Washington through members of congress, that for my oppo- 
nent to the Whig representative of the district, mine to a 
Democratic senator from the state of Maine whose father and 
brother in Westboro, with some other Democrats, had hap- 
pened to sign it. I soon received a letter from him saying 
that objections were made in letters received from Westboro 
that I was an offensive abolitionist. The condition of my 
appointment was a statement from myself, approved by two 
good men whom the senator had known from his boyhood, 
which, being furnished, my commission was soon received. 
The contents of the office in the town and of another office 



26 

that had been abolished in a village were sent to me, and a 
modern case with many private boxes was set up in the office 
for public use. Suitable apologies were made for the letters 
sent to Washington, and the new society prospered in due 
time from the effects of local meetings and lectures by Rev. 
Jacob Ide, D. D., of Medway, and others, among whom was 
the Hon. James G. Birney, who had emancipated all his slaves 
at a pecuniary loss, and whom I invited to give a lecture on 
slavery. He came, and was well received. I had much con- 
versation with him, as I entertained him. I remember in 
reply to my question, he said he thought emancipation might 
be decided in Kentucky by 1875, which would be followed by 
other Northern slave states. He well knew the obstacles in 
the way of progress to the desired result, and had not the faith 
of Garrison in the power of moral suasion. 

For a change of business I removed to Medway, in March, 
1840. During the spring and summer the abolitionists were 
busy in thought and action as to forming a new political party 
on the slavery question. It was presidential year, and as the 
time of election in November drew near the "Liberty party" 
was organized, more by committees than by delegated conven- 
tions, and candidates selected from president down to town 
representatives in several Northern states in the Union. In 
Medway the old parties were about equally divided, and each 
strenuous for every possible vote. I was earnestly solicited to 
vote by very prominent men in each party, and promised a seat 
at the State House next year. When election came the die. 
was cast, and myself, with sixteen others, voted the Liberty 
ticket, and Medway, with the exception of the large town of 
Weymouth, was the banner town of the county. In Medway 
and other towns the churches had regular conferences and 
prayer meetings for promoting the cause, which were very 
efficient in political results. 

In common town affairs party was often ignored for a time, 
so that a few years later when three men, myself included, 
were elected selectmen, we were called the " Nigger Board." 
It was not unusual, after an antislavery address had been 
given, to hear opponents call out : " How 's wool and ivory ? " 



27 

or "How are the long heels? " Soon after two colored men 
called on me to secure a chance to lecture, Lewis and Milton 
Clark by name, whom I entertained for about a week while 
they were giving lectures in neighboring villages. Lewis was 
the model for George Harris in Mrs. H. B. Stowe's story of 
"Uncle Tom's Cabin." 

In 1841, at a regular convention of the county at Dedham, I 
was assigned a place upon the county committee, and it 
became my lot to visit the towns to address meetings and dis- 
tribute documents for a better organization and a larger vote, 
and to prepare a printed address each year, a service that I 
rendered for several years. In i843-'44 I was chairman of 
the congressional district committee, and prepared the address, 
which I had printed in the Quincy Patriot, together with a long 
letter from ex-President John Quincy Adams on the slavery 
question and West-Indian emancipation project. In 1844 the 
congressional committee sought an interview with "The Old 
Man Eloquent," at his home in Quincy, an account of which I 
herewith present, it being No. 5 in a series of seven articles 
on the Slavery Question which I prepared for the Dedham 
Transcript at the request of my friend, Hon. Edward L. Pierce, 
late of Milton. The article bears date Feb. 13, 1892. 

AN INTERVIEW OF THE LIBERTY PARTY COMMITTEE WITH EX- 
PReSIDENT JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, OCT. I, 1 844. 

The cardinal principles of the Liberty party upon the slavery ques- 
tion were: Its abolition by congress in the District of Columbia, and 
restriction from all national territory, and the right of petition to con- 
gress for this purpose. Mr. Adams had been for many years a mem- 
ber of congress from his district, and fought a hard-fought battle on 
the right of petition, and was regarded as willing, at least, to see 
slavery abolished, but not wholly in sympathy with the platform of 
the Liberty party. Yet many of its members were inclined to support 
him for congress — myself included. 

To ascertain his exact position, the district committee of the party 
proposed to have an interview with him, and directed me, as its chair- 
man, to open a correspondence with him. This resulted in such an 
interview, Oct. 1, 1844, at his residence in Quincy. Although I have 
quite distinct recollection of its incidents and results, yet knowing 



28 

that Mr. Adams kept a diary of each day's events, which had been 
published in twelve large volumes of his memoirs, I called a few 
weeks since at the city library in Boston, and will give his account of 
it in his own words. 

Referring to the index, to my surprise I found the record under my 
own name, Vol. 12 : — " M. M. Fisher, candidate for congress, page 
92, etc. 11 The record follows : " The names in the margin are all the 
members of the committee of the eighth congressional district of Mas- 
sachusetts who visited me this morning. 11 (Oct. 1, 1844.) The 
names are as follows : Appleton Howe of Weymouth, John Kingman 
of North Bridgewater, Otis Cary of Foxboro, A. N. Hunt of Wey- 
mouth, J. H. Cushman of Roxbury, John Shorey of Dedham, John 
P. Gulliver of Roxbury, and M. M. Fisher of Medway. The record 
proceeds: " They have appointed this day week for a convention to 
nominate a candidate for election to the house of representatives of 
the United States in the Twenty-ninth congress. They have hereto- 
fore nominated a candidate against me ; they will at this time, and it 
is highly probable will defeat the election. They were, however, to 
me this day peculiarly courteous and civil. Mr. Fisher said they had 
no disposition to dictate opinions to me, nor to ask any pledge of me 
which might be disagreeable to me to give ; but they had come to the 
conclusion that they were under obligations of duty to vote exclu- 
sively for persons who entertained certain opinions on the subject of 
slavery. As they were fully aware of the great and frequent services 
that they were indebted to me for, in support of the cause which they 
had so much at heart, they wished for this friendly interview to ascer- 
tain my opinions on certain points upon which there was considerable 
diversity of opinion among those generally opposed to slavery. I 
told them that 'I would cheerfully give to them my opinions, as they 
were sincerely entertained, upon any and every point interesting to 
them ; that I had no motive to conceal or disguise any of my opinions 
upon subjects of public concernment ; that I had lived seventy-seven 
years and served in various offices, and never asked or solicited, 
directly or indirectly, the vote of any man, and thought it not worth 
while to commence the practice now. I answered all their questions, 
discussed with them the points upon which we did not concur. They 
declared themselves perfectly satisfied with the interview. One of 
them said he should (' could P 1 ) vote for me with pleasure, and thought 
he might. The rest were silent. I asked their names, which one of 
them brought me .on a card from French's tavern, where they dined. 
Mr. Fisher said they expected to cast 11 (in the state) "from 14,000 
to 16,000 votes." 1 



2 9 

The next day, October 2, he adds as follows : " My visitors yester- 
day were not, apparently, of one mind when they came nor when they 
left. My opposition to the abolition of slavery in the District of 
Columbia and territories they all disapprove. Mr. Howe, late senator, 
pressed me with the power of congress over slavery in the district. 
With regard to the territories, I told him I had no doubt, and would 
vote for such a bill." (Query, as above.) " I told them there was a 
great difference between the Democrats and the Whigs." Mr. Adams 
spoke of some things he has omitted in his diary, He said there was 
a great difference of opinion or lack of concentration on this question 
among those who were sincerely opposed to slavery. The coloniza- 
tion method he was decidedly opposed to — had no faith in it. It was 
"Janus-faced," one for the North and another for the South. 

Under date of October 9, he says : "John Gulliver of Roxbury, one 
of the district committee, in two letters says he hoped the party would 
not nominate a man against me. The Democrats have nominated 
Isaac H. Wright against me." On October 14 he writes again: 
"William Jackson of Newton and his brother Francis called. Will- 
iam Jackson is a candidate of the Liberty party for lieutenant-governor 
of the state. He told me he went to the convention of the Liberty 
party in Dedham to prevent, if possible, the nomination of a candi- 
date against me, but found it impossible. They were exceedingly 
zealous. He said he hoped I would be elected, but considered it 
doubtful." On October 18 he wrote again, and says : " Dr. Nathaniel 
Miller of Franklin also called to inquire if I could not visit Franklin 
or that part of the county, where, he said, the Liberty party were 
exceedingly busy and courting favor with the Democracy. He made 
some inquiries about the deputation from that party which visited me, 
and particularly about M. M. Fisher of Medway. At their conven- 
tion at Dedham there were fifty-five votes taken, of which thirty-five 
were for Appleton Howe, fourteen for me, and five for Mr. Fisher." 
October 20 he says : " Mr. Leavitt suggests in his Boston paper that 
the Liberty party unite with the Democrats and elect him " (Mr. 
Adams) "to the senate, and Mr. Howe to congress," and he com- 
ments by saying: " I think their electioneering is more knavish than 
either of the old parties." 

Mr. Adams seemed much disturbed, if not irritated, previous to the 
election in which he feared defeat by the Liberty party, with so little 
reason, as the writer foresaw he would have, as he did, a large minority 
vote of that party. A writer in the Norfolk County History says : 
" In his district Mr. Adams had two opponents, and as the election 



30 

drew near he looked forward with scarcely a doubting anticipation to 
his own defeat. In Quincy the Democrats led the Whigs for gov- 
ernor by eight votes, but for congress Mr. Adams led Mr. Wright by 
thirty-three votes," given largely by Liberty party men, without any 
doubt. 

When this interview became known it was a matter of anxious 
solicitude to the politicians of both parties as to what it portended. 
Some affected to think it was impertinent for us to seek an interview 
with such a distinguished man. The writer is happy to say that after 
his election he received friendly letters from Mr. Adams, and had an 
interview with him on the steamer returning from Washington, when 
he introduced his son — now Dr. Fisher of Boston, then ten years old 
— he took him by the hand and said, " I hope you are a good aboli- 
tionist. 1 ' I saw him no more till I saw him at his burial. It may be 
recalled that he fell on the floor of congress. The Hon. Daniel Fisher 
of Ohio took him in his arms and removed him to the lobby, where 
he soon died, saying: " This is the last of earth. I am content." 

Yours truly, 

M. M. Fisher. 

Medway, Feb. 13, 1893. 

In 1846 the ex-President was reelected by a larger majority; 
died at the capitol, as above stated. I attended his funeral at 
Quincy. Before his death he openly declared, "I am an abo- 
litionist." 

Previous to and at the time Mr. Garrison began his work in 
the publication of The Liberator, the American churches, moved 
by the apprehension that the plague of the Asiatic cholera, so 
extremely fatal, would soon reach this country, began a series 
of revivals through all the states, in which the clergy were much 
engrossed. This was especially true of Rev. Lyman Beecher, 
D. D., of Boston. Mr. Garrison, thinking he would cheerfully 
cooperate with him, was greatly disappointed to learn other- 
wise, and that only one Congregational minister in Boston, 
Rev. Amos A. Phelps, would bid him Gocl-speed in his good 
work. 

In the country towns in this vicinity ministers and members 
were always ready to cooperate in the movement. Rev. Moses 
Thatcher, with his religious paper, The Telegraph, is an in- 



3i 

stance. Rev. Jacob Ide, D. D., of West Medway and Rev. 
David Sanford of Medway were helpful, as w^re others. 

Monthly concerts for prayer and conference had been held 
in many churches, and in these meetings, as in Medway, the 
slavery question was introduced. Many churches voted to ex- 
clude ministers from the South returning to or visiting the 
North, from any fellowship in their church, as Medway and others 
did. Meetings also in family circles were held. I was active 
in both these methods of work with Dr. Ide and others. Mr. 
Garrison did not construe St. Paul's charge for the " women to 
keep silence," as the churches generally understood it, and 
many good friends were grieved. Some were pleased and be- 
came " Comeouters " who disturbed the peace of the society. 
The work of the Hon. James G. Birney, entitled the "American 
Churches the Bulwark of Slavery," applies not so much in the 
individual church as to their aggregate and larger organizations 
for missionary purposes North and South. In this state of 
things Providence favored me with an opportunity to petition 
the largest organization of our Northern churches which was 
apparently in complicity with American slavery, the A. B. C. 
F. M. 

MEMORIAL TO THE A. B. C. F. M., SEPTEMBER, 1844. 

PREPARED BY M. M. FISHER. 

This memorial was presented at the meeting of the Board at Wor- 
cester, and was the first public announcement that slavery was toler- 
ated in the mission churches among the Indians. 

This fact I had previously obtained from the wife of Rev. Charles 
Kingsbury, a missionary to the Indians at the Indian reservation, 
formerly in Florida and Georgia. 

A Petition Written by M. M. Fisher. 

To the American Board of Co?nmissioners for Foreign Missions : 

Whereas, the letter and the spirit of the gospel recognize the com- 
mon brotherhood of all mankind and are as diametrically opposed to 
the sin of oppression as to idolatry, and, 

Whereas, the history of God's dealings with the church and the 
world shows most clearly that he holds this sin in utter abhorrence 
and is disposed to punish it with the greatest severity, and, 



32 

Whereas, American slavery is of necessity what the most com- 
petent witnesses declare it to be — a system of oppression so unjust and 
so grievous that we have reason " to tremble for our country when we 
reflect that God is just and that his justice will not sleep forever " — a 
system according to similar testimony whose unhappy subjects are in 
many cases in a " worse condition than heathen in a foreign land," 
and, 

Whereas, we have reason to believe that Christianity is being re- 
proached in heathen as well as Christian lands and the gospel hindered 
both at home and abroad because so many professing Christians and 
Christian institutions appear by their action or their silence to approve 
or tolerate this iniquity, and, 

Whereas, your memorialists, members or patrons of the Board, 
have been credibly informed that slavery is tolerated in the churches 
under the patronage of the Board among the Choctaws and other 
Indian tribes by the admission of slaveholding members, and, 

Whereas, for these and other reasons many liberal and devoted 
Christians have withheld their contributions from the Board, and 
without a remedy we are persuaded many more will do likewise, — 

We respectfully ask that the Board would take this subject into seri- 
ous and prayerful consideration and declare to the world that accord- 
ing to its original purpose the sole object of the Board, is to carry 
the whole gospel to the nominal Christian and benighted pagan, to 
deliver them not only from the superstition of idolatry but from the 
degradation and cruelty of oppression. 

And we ask that, in strict accordance with this object, the Board 
would earnestly and affectionately entreat all the missionaries under its 
patronage to bear a decided testimony against the sin of oppression 
wherever and in whatever form it exists, and especially to declare in 
the name of the American Board, of the churches represented by it, 
and of Jesus Christ whom they preach, that American slavery is a sin 
against God and that its existence in a Christian land is in nowise 
chargeable to the Christian religion which they are commissioned to 
preach. 

And we further pray, that the Prudential Committee be instructed 
to ascertain whether slavery exists, and if so to what extent, in the 
churches under the patronage of the Board among the Choctaws and 
other Indian tribes and to use their official influence for its speedy re-, 
moval ; and report their proceedings at the next annual meeting of the 
Board. 

And we also ask that this memorial with whatever action is had 



33 

thereon may be officially communicated to all the missionaries of the 
Board and to all the lecturing and receiving agents of the Board in the 
United States. 

All which is respectfully submitted by your memorialists, the under- 
signed members and Patrons of the Board. 

Signed by 

Rev. Jacob Ide, D. D., 

and others. 

Written and signers obtained by me, and was present at the meet- 
ing. M. M.F. 
September, 1844. 

I obtained the following subscribers to this petition, as far as I can 
now remember, 19 in all, to wit : 

Rev. Jacob Ide, D. D., W. Medway. 
Rev. David Sanford, Medway. 
Rev. J. C. Lovejoy, Cambridgeport. 
Dea. M. M. Fisher, Medway. 
Rev. Charles Packard, Spencer. 
Dea. Geo. W. Hunt, Medway. 
Wm. M. Haskell, 
Nathaniel Clark, " 

Dea. Samuel Allen, " 
Col. Elijah Stoddard, Upton. 
Rev. George Trask, Framingham. 
Rev. J. C. Webster, Hopkinton. 
Rev. R. M. Chapman. 
Rev. Mortimer Blake, Mansfield. 
Rev. William Phipps, Paxton. 
Rev. Horace D. Walker, Abington. 
Rev. Charles Summers, Norfolk. 
Dea. Peter Adams, Franklin. 
Rev. Israel Trask. 

The discussion of this subject in the Mission board had a 
great effect upon the pastors and laymen of the whole body of 
the Protestant church in the country, and stimulated the anti- 
slavery sentiment, as is seen in the formation of the American 
Missionary Association, and the growth of the Liberty party up 
to 1848; In respect to the former I insert an article published 
in the Boston Evening Traveler of date Dec. 13, 1884, in which 
3 



I trace the process of the formation of the American Mission- 
ary Association : 

Mr. Editor : In your supplement of October 25, I read with great 
interest an extended report of the 33d anniversary of the American 
Missionary Association recently held at Salem. 

I was involuntarily carried back to the inception of missionary work 
for the colored races in our land ; and the successive steps which led 
up to the organization of this noble Christian enterprise seemed to be 
links in a wonderful chain of special providential events designed to 
secure the elevation of these races through this channel of Christian 
benevolence. 

It appears to have been exceedingly opportune that when by the 
success of the Union arms the door to the great Southern field was 
opened wide, the necessary equipment had been provided to put the 
soldiers of the cross — the advanced guard of freedom and civiliza- 
tion — into the field which the soldiers of the American army had va- 
cated. If such an -organization had not been perfected, and prepara- 
tory work begun, much delay and loss must have occurred. 

It is matter for grateful recognition that God, who had a great 
work to be wrought by the churches of America, moved upon the 
hearts of earnest Christian workers to utilize the growing sentiment in 
these churches against the wrongs of the African race, in devising a 
new channel for its expression. 

Providence conspired in several ways to deepen this sentiment, be- 
fore the time had fully arrived for united and efficient action in organ- 
ized work. 

The abolition of slavery in the British West India islands in 1833 
gave increasing facilities for successful missionary work among the 
freedmen in the islands of Jamaica and Antigua, and the knowledge 
of this work by British Christians nourished and stimulated a desire 
for cooperation among Christian people in the free states ; but not 
until 1844 was an American committee formed to aid this mission. 

But previous to this, in June, 1839, another historical event of 
thrilling interest transpired, in the discovery of what was described in 
the newspapers of the day as a " long, low, bl^ck schooner lying near 
the coast of Connecticut,' 1 which proved to have been the Spanish 
slave schooner Amistad, in possession of 42 slaves from the African 
coast, who had by violence wrested the vessel from their captors, who 
providentially changed its course from a return to Africa to the free 
states of the North. 



35 

These slaves were claimed by the Spanish authorities, but ex-Presi- 
dent John Ouincy Adams volunteered in their defence, and after a 
contest in the courts of a year and a half, they were declared free and 
were returned with three missionaries, under the patronage of a com- 
mittee, to Kaw-Mendi, West Africa, their native land. 

Many slaves in the northern portion of the slave states, after many 
hardships and hairbreadth escapes, were found in Canada, and re- 
ceived aid in money and clothing, and in the support of the colony 
which had been formed. 

The managers of the underground railroad, as it was called, made 
large drafts upon some early Christian workers for these fugitives in 
their flight from the house of bondage. 

The extent of this work was probably never fully revealed to the 
public, and the methods adopted by some friends of the slaves were 
not approved by others equally sympathetic and earnest in the cause 
of emancipation. 

I received a long communication from Rev. Charles T. Torrey, who 
devoted himself to this work, dated " Baltimore Jail, Nov. 16, 1844," 
in which he says : "I suppose I have freed about four hundred, who 
otherwise would have lived, and most of them died, in slavery." 

There 1 had been a growing dissatisfaction with the attitude of the 
older missionary societies in regard to slavery during all these years ; 
they were, however, still regarded by the churches generally with the 
warmest affection, and especially the American Board of Commission- 
ers for Foreign Missions. 

As this board had expressed its views of temperance and polyga- 
my, it was pressed by its antislavery supporters to utter some protest 
against what Wesley called the " Sum of all villainies." 

Contributions to its funds were received from slaveholders and 
tacitly solicited, and this was to many objectionable, so long as 
silence was maintained as to the system of slavery itself. A legacy 
from a well-known philanthropist was left to the board on condition 
that funds from slaveholders were declined, but the legacy was re- 
spectfully declined by the board. 

Friends of the board thought it unwise to treat the slavery question 
in the abstract, but should it come before them in a practical way, 
interposing any obstacle to the proclamation of the gospel, the ques- 
tion would be met. 

At this very juncture of the discussion, a little incident occurred 
which very providentially brought the matter before the Christian 
public in a more practical way than had been thought possible. 



36 

In the summer of 1844 the widow of Rev. Cyrus Kingsbury, a mis- 
sionary of the board to the Christian Indians, while on a visit in Med- 
way, where her husband formerly- resided, gave, on the invitation of 
our pastor, Rev. David Sanford, an account of the missionary work to 
which she and her husband had been a long time devoted. 

Having, as early as 1831, espoused the antislavery movement, and 
knowing that one of the alleged causes which led to the Seminole war 
in Florida, and the removal of the Indians from Georgia to the new 
Indian territory, under Jackson's administration, was that they har- 
bored fugitive slaves and probably held them as slaves like the " white 
folks," I was interested to verify the fact by a responsible witness. 

I questioned Mrs. Kingsbury very closely as to the status of the 
fugitive slaves domiciled among the Indians ; whether they intermar- 
ried or not; whether any had been reduced to slavery by them, and 
the attitude of the missions toward the negro. She spurned the idea 
that the Indian intermarried with the negro, saying " He felt as much 
above them as the whites do.'' 1 On the question of slavery she was 
sensitive, and inclined to reticence, but finally the fact, then unknown 
to the churches and patrons of the board, was admitted, that the mis- 
sionaries employed slave labor and admitted both slaves and slave- 
holders to their churches, and they had not given the matter much 
consideration. 

From these disclosures the relations of the board to slavery seemed 
to me sufficiently practical to ask the board, of which I was an honor- 
ary member, for an investigation of this case and a declaration of its 
future policy upon the subject. 

Accordingly, without much delay or consultation, I drew up a me- 
morial to the board, which was signed by many prominent ministers 
and laymen and presented at the annual meeting of the American 
board, as previously stated. 

In presenting the petition, suitable remarks were made by Rev. 
Messrs. Webster and Lovejoy, and it was referred to a committee 
consisting of Dr. Woods, Dr. Tyler, Chancelor Walworth, Hon. T. 
W. Williams, Dr. Stowe, Rev. S. L. Pomeroy, Rev. D. Sanford, Dr. 
Tappan, Rev. J. W. McLane, and Rev. D. Greene, who made a par- 
tial report at that meeting, but asked and obtained leave to make a 
further report at the next annual meeting, which was held at Brooklyn, 
N. Y. No one present when this petition was read will ever forget 
the profound stillness and the sensation of surprise which the facts 
disclosed produced in that vast assembly. It is not probable that 
even the. prudential committee then knew that of 240 members in the 



37 

mission churches among the Cherokees, fifteen Indian members were 
slaveholders, and twenty-one were slaves, and that among the Choc- 
taws and Chickasaws there were twenty slaveholders and one hundred 
and thirty-one slaves, and as large a proportion in the churches of the 
Moravian, Baptist, and Methodist denominations, as future investi- 
gation proved. 

The full and final report of the committee may be found on page 54 
of the minutes of the board meeting at Brooklyn in 1845. 

It may, in truth, be said that the report of the committee, ap- 
proved by the corporate members of the board, satisfied the average 
Christian sentiment at that time upon the slavery question, but failed 
to meet the views of the more earnest and aggressive workers in the 
antislavery cause, as a warm and prolonged debate very clearly dem- 
onstrated. Corporate members only voting, the report was adopted 
unanimously. 

It was soon perceived by the prudential committee that something 
more must be done, and Dr. Treat, one of the secretaries of the board, 
was deputed to visit these mission churches and if possible, to bring 
their action in the matter of slavery more into harmony with advanced 
views upon the slavery question. The report of Dr. Treat was very 
decidedly progressive and not agreeable to the more conservative 
friends of the board. At an auxiliary meeting, I well remember how 
a resolution of approval of his mission and report, offered by me, was 
met with opposition by Rev. Calvin Durfee and others, but Rev. Dr. 
Ide coming to its support, it was successfully adopted. 

But in antislavery circles nothing could remove the taint of a timid 
conservatism from this great missionary board. I remember my 
humble petition was published in Edinburgh, Scotland, and its facts 
were a subject of comment by Rev. Dr. Chalmers and other Scotch 
divines, who were pronounced in their antislavery views. The anti- 
slavery press of this country called for the proclamation of an anti- 
slavery gospel to the Indian tribes and to the heathen world. 

This little incident occurring in the parlor of our pastor, projected a 
train of events which united and concentrated the Christian antisla- 
very sentiment — hitherto expressed in aiding the mission in the West 
India islands, the Mendi mission in Africa, the fugitives in Canada, 
colored schools and private charities, in the formation of the Ameri- 
can Missionary association on September 3, \i846, into which all 
previous missionary work for the colored races was merged. 

Seldom has the hand of Providence been so clearly seen as in the 
successive steps which culminated in the foundation of this noble 



38 

Christian organization for its special work. It was admirably equipped 
in its executive department, and with earnest workers of some experi- 
ence, to enter at once upon the field of its labor at Hampton, Va., 
and elsewhere, following the advancing steps of our victorious Union 
army, until the widest possible door was opened by the consummation 
of that immortal proclamation upon which Abraham Lincoln "invoked 
the considerate judgment of all mankind, and the gracious favor of 
Almighty God. 11 

Of the nineteen signers of this memorial in 1884, only four are liv- 
ing — Rev. Mortimer Blake, D. D., Rev. Horace D. Walker, Dea. 
Peter Adams and myself. (1884.) * 

They were all deeply interested in this new channel for missionary 
work and always liberally contributed to its support, not forgetting 
nor altogether forsaking the American board whose relations to the 
younger association are now so harmonious. All friends of missions 
must heartily rejoice in the success of the parent board in its great 
foreign field, and every friend of his country, and of the colored races, 
will heartily join in the sentiment of the finance committee of the as- 
sociation expressed in their report at Salem, " that no less than $1 ,000 
a day are imperatively demanded for the work of the coming year. 1 ' 
Let this money be forthcoming day by day. 

M. M. Fisher. 

Medway, Dec. 11, 1884. 

Note. — Rev. Woodvvorth, secretary of the American Mis- 
sionary association, bought 500 copies of this letter for distri- 
bution. 

It is to the credit of the- American board that it became, in 
due time, emancipated from all connection with slavery, the 
work commencing after the preceding petition had been made 
public to the whole body of the church and the Christian 
world. 

Up to this time there had been great dissatisfaction among 
prominent Whigs and Democrats, with the compromising sen- 
timent that prevailed in their several parties. There were 
"conscience" Whigs in Massachusetts and "barnburners" in 
New York, especially after the nominations of Zachary Taylor 
and Lewis Cass, from which some delegates bolted, and many 
preferred the position of the Liberty party on the slavery 

* All are now (1902) dead but myself. 



39 

question directly on the issue, of the non-extension of slavery 
in new territory, which being accomplished, slavery must 
wither and eventually die. A delegated and mass convention 
was called to meet at Worcester, June 28, 1848. The city 
hall was the place for deliberation and action, and the public 
common for public speech, where a thousand deeply interested 
citizens were addressed by Judge Samuel Hoar and his son, 
E. R. Hoar, and several others, during the day. 

In the hall, a committee on resolutions as a platform for a 
state party organization was chosen, as follows: Stephen C. 
Phillips, Erastus Hopkins, D. and W. Alvord, Milton M. Fisher, 
Allen Bangs, William B. Spooner, John Milton Earl, and E. 
Rockwood Hoar. 

It was voted to send delegates to a national convention to 
be held at Buffalo, Aug. 9 and 10, and for Norfolk county, 
Hon. Charles Francis Adams, Wm. T. Reynolds, and Milton 
M. Fisher were designated, and went. A full delegation from 
the state was present, and I am reported as being the only 
survivor of these state delegates (1902). 

At a reunion of Free Soilers in 1888, at the Parker House, 
Boston, I made a short speech, alluding to this convention 
and other relative topics, which is here inserted. 

REMARKS OF HON. MILTON M. FISHER. 

Mr. President : I assume that it is simply from the fact that I 
am providentially the only one of two representatives now living, and 
the only one present to-day of fifteen members of the Committee on 
Resolutions adopted at the organization of the Free Soil party, that 
I am asked to say a word on this occasion. In the more vivid 
remembrance of that eventful day, and the progress marked by it in 
the great antislavery movement, beginning nearly twenty years before, 
I had well-nigh forgotten my incidental relation to it until your 
announcement of the fact in your opening address. 

Everything has a beginning ; the Free Soil party was not an excep- 
tion. But something always precedes a beginning, and something 
preceded the Free Soil party, else it had never been. Antislavery 
sentiments — convictions held with the tenacity of a divine inspira- 
tion — preceded it. They found early utterance in Garrison and 
Whittier, Lovejoy and Leavitt, Quincy and Phillips, through The 



4° 

Liberator and The Emancipator , and many pulpits. They were crys- 
talized as a moral sentiment in the American Antislavery society in 
1833, and politically in the Liberty party in 1840. The latter organ- 
ization was hopeful and aspiring, if not vigorous and stalwart, when 
the Free Soil party was organized. Yes, Mr. Chairman, it had a 
vitality in the conscience and intelligence of the people that could not 
have been annihilated, but, as Joshua Leavitt said at the Buffalo con- 
vention in August, 1848, might be, as it was, ''translated" bodily 
into a wider realm of immortality through the Free Soil party of the 
republic. 

It was my honor and privilege, with Charles Francis Adams of 
Quincy (a conscience Whig) and William J. Reynolds of Roxbury 
(a barnburner Democrat) , to represent the Liberty party of Norfolk 
county in that first National convention of the Free Soil party which 
augmented the rising tide still higher, until, through the Republican 
party of 1856, — by the pen of Abraham Lincoln, — the armies of the 
Union, and " the gracious favor of Almighty God," the death-struggle 
of a generation ended in victory for "Free Soil, Free Labor, and 
Free Men." 

Yes, Mr. Chairman, the men, and the women, too, who talked and 
prayed in schoolhouses and chapels, who worked till towns and coun- 
ties were roused and organized for aggressive and efficient service, 
are entitled to high credit and honorable mention on this occasion as 
the pioneers and heralds of the Free Soil party. Among them were 
the saints and martyrs of the gospel of Liberty, who suffered death 
and the loss of all things for the cause. Few escaped a social and 
political ostracism and the scorn and contempt of former friends, 
equivalent to death itself; and some of us are old enough to know 
whereof we speak. 

But, Mr. Chairman, the former things have passed away. If it 
were not a day for reminiscences, we might indulge in anticipations. 
It is enough for us that our lives and deeds are a matter of history, 
and that God in his providence has vindicated the cause we espoused. 
For the future we need not fear. The old Roman proverb is still our 
hope and trust, — " Magna est Veritas et pr&valebit.' 1 '' 

A REMINISCENCE OF THE BUFFALO CONVENTION. 

I cannot close this brief review of the convention without alluding 
to one other incident, of which I was an eye witness. On the morn- 
ing of the convention, as I entered from a side street one of the prin- 
cipal avenues of the city leading up from the western steamboat land- 



4 r 

ing, I saw a great crowd of stalwart men, brown with toil and appar- 
ently belonging to the most intelligent class of farmers, who had just 
landed from one of the steamers from Cleveland, O. At the same 
time, coming in an opposite direction, from the railroad station, I 
observed a tall, broad-shouldered man, with a brown duster and 
carpet-bag, walking in the middle of the street, whom I at once recog- 
nized as the indomitable Joshua R. Giddings, who had just arrived 
from Washington to attend the great meeting. At the same time he 
was seen by this crowd of Buckeyes, most of whom were his con- 
stituents in old Ashtabula county and the Western Reserve. They 
rushed upon him almost en masse, without ceremony or introduction, 
shaking him by the hand or getting hold of him as best they could, 
until the street was so blocked up that Mr. Giddings motioned to 
them to pass into a side court. Here he gave these sturdy pioneers 
of freedom a full opportunity to exchange salutations and congratula- 
tions with him upon the auspicious events now transpiring. As Mr. 
Giddings inquired after friends and families in Ohio and as to the 
progress of the good cause at home, I was transfixed with amazement, 
and delighted as well, to see such an enthusiastic greeting wit.h such 
a multitude of people, who in their intense familiarity seemed to 
belong to one great family, of which Mr. Giddings was the beloved 
patriarch. 

In the mass convention, under the big tent, Charles Francis Adams 
presided with ease and dignity, and it is doubtful if he ever felt hap- 
pier or appeared to better advantage in any public capacity than under 
the inspiration of this occasion. After the nomination, David Dudley 
Field, then a young lawyer in New York, of great promise, made at 
the. mass convention a noble speech for the cause and for Mr. Van 
Buren. He began with the quotation from Shakespeare in Richard 
the Third, and applied it with great pertinence and force to the suc- 
cessful nomination of the favorite candidate of the barnburners : 

Now is the winter of our discontent 
Made glorious summer by this son of York. 
And all the clouds that lowered upon our house, 
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried! 

Other incidents of this eventful occasion might be mentioned, but 
I forbear. The history of the party then formed is but partly written 
as yet. The great measure adopted was to restrict slavery to its exist- 
ing limits, and this has not only been accomplished, but every inch 
of national soil is free soil and trodden only by free men. 

At this period the South became alarmed, and made strong 



4 2 

demonstrations upon congress to seek new territory for the 
extension of slavery, as had been done in the Florida and 
Louisiana purchase, and also in the annexation of Texas. In 
1850, Henry Wilson, a member of the senate of Massachusetts, 
urged upon that body a resolution to instruct the senators and 
representatives of the states in congress to vote for such meas- 
ures as would absolve the people from all responsibility for the 
existence of slavery in the United States. This was opposed 
by senators in both the other parties, and defeated, thereby in- 
dicating that these representatives of the states were willing to 
accept such responsibility with its results. After amendments 
favoring the South, the resolution was finally adopted. We of 
the state central committee called a state convention to be 
held in Faneuil Hall, Boston, to prepare for any emergency. 
A committee on resolutions, consisting of Richard H. Dana, 
Stephen C. Phillips, Samuel Hoar, John G. W T hittier, Charles 
Sumner, and Milton M. Fisher, was chosen. 

The address and resolutions reported by Mr. Dana in the 
Faneuil Hall meeting aforementioned, enjoined upon the mem- 
bers of congress from Massachusetts to adhere to the princi- 
ple, "No more slave states; no more slave territory." At 
this time Daniel Webster, senator from Massachusetts, who 
had said, " The nomination of General Taylor (for president 
by the Whig party) was not fit to be made" gave encouragement 
that he would stand firm with the Free Soil party. But his 
famous " 7th of March speech " dissipated all hope of his sup- 
port of the principles of that party. The ardor of some was 
cooled by Mr. Webster's attitude, but Henry Wilson was 
aroused, and as slaveholders began to threaten a dissolution 
of the Union, he said, " Let us march boldly to the extreme 
verge of our constitutional rights, to resist the extension of 
slavery over the territory of the Republic." In 1852 the Barn- 
burners left the Free Soil party vote for Hale and Julian and 
their vote was much reduced from that of Van Buren and 
Adams, but in 1856 the Free Soil party, with accessions from 
both Whigs and Democrats, nominated Fremont and Dayton 
for president and vice-president respectively, and polled a 
large vote. 



43 

James Buchanan was elected president, but was a compro- 
miser, and weak in all measures to thwart the schemes of the 
South for the protection and promotion of slavery. The 
Southern people foresaw that their only hope was in secession. 
In the campaign of i860 they were divided in respect to their 
candidate for president between John C. Breckenridge of Ken- 
tucky and Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois, the former repre- 
senting the disunionist sentiment, the latter the more conser- 
vative. 

Meanwhile the new party that was organized in Pittsburg, 
Pa., in 1856, and had adopted the principles of the Free Soil 
party and absorbed it, was gaining by accessions from the 
Whig and Democratic parties, of men who were opposed to 
slavery. It adopted the name Republican, which had pre- 
viously been carried by Jefferson and his successors, till An- 
drew Jackson changed the name of the party to Democratic 
which it has ever since carried. 

The Republican party in convention in i860 very unex- 
pectedly nominated Abraham Lincoln for president, instead of 
W. H. Seward, the prospective candidate, and he was tri- 
umphantly elected over all competitors. 

The issue on which Mr. Lincoln was elected had been fore- 
shadowed in the famous debate between him and Mr. Doug- 
las in the campaign for United States senator from Illinois, in 
1858, for which both men were aspirants, viz., "No more 
states or territories for slavery." Before the inauguration of 
Mr. Lincoln, Virginia called for what was styled a " Peace 
Convention," to which the other states were invited. Twenty- 
two responded by sending commissioners. Governor Bout- 
well and Judge Charles Allen represented Massachusetts. 
Many speeches representing conflicting views were made, but 
nothing was suggested on which an agreement could be based. 
It was a Southern movement at the start, and a report, pre- 
pared in advance of the meeting, was adopted by a majority 
vote, and presented to the senate on the last day of its session, 
but no vote was taken upon it, " and the propositions of the 
Peace convention were left to sleep in the tomb of the Capu- 
lets." 



44 

Governor Boutwell, on his return, said to me. " It was not 
possible to come to any reasonable agreement with Southern 
views on the slavery question." As the fourth of March, 1861, 
drew near, the president-elect started for Washington,' and to 
avoid a plan for his assassination changed his route, and ar- 
rived in safety, took the oath, made his inaugural address, and 
commenced his administration. 

On the 13th of April Fort Sumter was attacked by the Con- 
federates, and surrendered next day. The War of the Rebel- 
lion had commenced. The president issued a call for 75,000 
troops for three months, which was followed by subsequent 
calls for larger numbers of men, and for longer terms of service. 

I will briefly mention Medway's response to the president's 
requisitions. Under the call for three years' men, which soon 
followed that for three months' men, Massachusetts was re- 
quested to furnish two regiments of infantry volunteers, to be 
numbered first and second. Medway village made a vigorous 
attempt in May, 1861, to raise and officer a full company, with 
such additions as might join from adjacent towns. Eighty 
men or more were soon enrolled, and were drilled by Capt. 
David Daniels, and a specialist, whose services were paid for 
by the citizens. 

The two regiments were filling fast, and a chance in either 
for the Medway company was doubtful. The writer was ap- 
pointed to confer with Governor Andrew, who said "there was 
no chance for a full company, and possibly not for the men ; 
Adjutant Schouler might know." He was seen and said, " No 
chance, all full." I sought and found Lieutenant Williams of 
Co. E, and he was delighted to hear the facts I gave. A large 
body of men engaged by Company E, having a chance to enter 
a regiment already in service, forsook him. He said he would 
like to come to Medway and meet the men. He came, and 
they voted to join Company E almost to a man, and soon I 
had the pleasure of a trip with them to Brook Farm, West Rox- 
bury. I subsequently visited them several times before they 
left for the seat of war. The history of this company and 
their regiment was written by Chaplain Quint, also in the Med- 
way town history. On the marble pedestal that supports one 



45 

of the couchant lions of Gaudens at the head of the grand 
stairway in the public library of Boston, is the battle record of 
the famous second regiment, and encircled by a bronze wreath 
of victory are the words " Second Massachusetts Infantry, 
1861-1865." A memorial that hundreds every day read. 

After this great enlistment, and the hard battle of Bull Run, 
another call was made for more men. It was a dark time, but 
more men must enlist or be drafted. A meeting was called in 
the village church for enlistments, and after earnest calls were 
made with no response, without forethought the writer pulled 
out his gold watch and said, "The man who first enlists shall 
have it." Several loud voices shouted "I will." Who spoke 
first, nobody could tell in the excitement of the moment, so 
the watch was given to the committee, who found two volun- 
teers who were equally entitled to it. A watchmaker apprised 
it, and I gave more than half the value of.it to each man, who 
claimed to be the substitutes of a man past age, who retains 
the watch as a keepsake of a thrilling incident at a dark 
period in the history of the war. At its beginning, on motion 
of the writer, the town, and afterwards the state, provided that 
every city and town should keep a record of the service of 
enlisted men in the coming war, and Medway's record reveals 
the work of 377 officers and men, a number exceeding the re- 
quired quota, at an expense to the town of $35,000, and of a 
considerable sum to individuals. I furnish a list of the offi- 
cials holding commissions, in alphabetical order, to wit : 

*Dr. Henry Brown, surgeon, 1863-1865. 

George Brown, 2d lieutenant. 

Theo W. Fisher, surgeon and assistant one year. 

Joseph C. Clifford, captain, and guard over President Lin- 
coln after his assassination, and in the regular army after to 
1880 and later. 

*Dr. A. L. B. Monroe, surgeon, May 21, 1862, to the end of 
war. 

Dr. F. L. B. Monroe, surgeon, April 20, 1 861, to end of war, 
and in the army to 1876. 

* The rank of surgeon was that of a major. 



4 6 

Charles H. Daniels, 2d lieutenant and quartermaster. Dis- 
charged Feb. 7, 1867, after service from July 2, 1861. 

David A. Partridge, first elected 2d lieutenant by his com- 
pany in Forty-second Massachusetts; at. one time did various 
services at camps at Readville and later joined the Fifty-fourth 
colored regiment, under Colonel Shaw, and April 14th was ap- 
pointed captain ; at the time Shaw was killed he stood in com- 
mand legally, if occasion required, being the oldest captain in 
the regiment, and was later honored at the Shaw's monument 
service in Boston. 

Benjamin C. Tinkham, captain in Co. B, Forty-second regi- 
ment, Mass. Vols., from Sept. 13, 1862. Mustered out Nov. 
11, 1864. 

During the progress of the Civil War I received many votes 
of thanks for my services in encouraging enlistments, and in 
augmenting the military appropriation fund passed by the com- 
mittees having these interests in charge. Among a multitude 
of letters from prominent men, I have one which explains 
itself, and may properly be introduced here : 

Hon. M. M. Fisher, Medway, Mass. 

London, 17th Oct., 1862. 

Dear Sir: I have to acknowledge the reception of your letter of the 
27th of September, informing me that a company of choice young men, 
mostly of the town of Medway, and all among my old constituents, 
have done me the honor to adopt the title of the "Adams Guard." 
With this name they propose to incorporate themselves into the 42d 
Regiment of Massachusetts, about to be summoned into service in the 
present war. I trust I need not say to you how much I feel this act 
of kindly remembrance while at this distance from home, in the midst 
of strangers. I pray you to express to the young men my most hearty 
thanks for it, and my confident belief that wherever they may be called 
to take a part in this fearful strife, they will not fail to sustain the 
credit of their name, as well as the honor of their state and the 
national flag. > c 

I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, 

Charles Francis Adams, 

Then Minister Plenipotentiary to England. 
Copy of a letter from John G. Whittier : 



47 

To M. M. Fisher. 

Danvers, Feb. 9, 1888. 

My Dear Friend: I am heartily glad to hear from one of the old 
guard of the antislavery war. I know well thy works of courage and 
devotion in the dark days of the long conflict. 

There are but few of us left. John N. Barber of Cambridgeport 
visited me the other day, bright and vigorous at 82. Samuel E. Sew- 
all is in his 88th year. 

How thankful we are that we have lived to see the end of slavery. 
With much interest I have read thy article in the Traveller. God has 
been good to us. I am feeling the burden of years heavily, and am 
daily admonished " the time is short.' 1 The Lord bless thee, my dear 
comrade in the great conflict. 

I am truly thy friend, 

John G. Whittier. 

A generation has passed since the Civil War ended, a con- 
test unparalleled in its bitterness and determination — perhaps 
unmatched in its expenditure of life and treasure — whose on- 
slaughts were marked in the South by desolation, and in the 
North by business and financial havoc. Among the manufac- 
turing firms in New England that were crippled if not wrecked 
by the repudiation by Southern debtors of their obligations, the 
straw goods trade suffered greatly — some manufacturers were 
ruined. The firm of Fisher & Harding was embarrassed, and 
had it not been for the timely aid of our neighbors, we must 
have succumbed — the whole country had its story of woe which 
will live in history. It is easy to see in the review that slavery 
was the primal cause of the war, although the early agitators 
against slavery did not anticipate that solution of the problem. 
The idea of William Lloyd Garrison was to bring about aboli- 
tion by means of agitation — by moral suasion only. The Lib- 
erty party looked for the abolition of slavery by the means of 
the ballot, which was the plan of the Free Soil and Republican 
parties. John Pierpont said and sung, — 

"A weapon falls as light and still 
As snowflakes fall upon the sod ; 
Yet executes the freeman's will, 

As lightnings do, the will of God.' 11 



48 

By the logic of events, as the war progressed, President Lin- 
coln was impelled to issue the Emancipation Proclamation and 
American slavery was ended. 

In the outset the thought of a civil war was abhorrent to 
multitudes, and under the early administration of Lincoln a 
gradual or immediate abolition of slavery with full compensa- 
tion to the owner for every slave would have been gladly made 
in preference to the disruption of the Union. The first shot 
fired upon Fort Sumter satisfied all that the arbitrament of 
war was the only solution of the problem between the North 
and South. 

The antislavery campaign (that preceded the campaign of 
bullets) for the enlightenment of the people, and the awakening 
of conscience, carried on for thirty years by its advocates, 
involved much expenditure of money and personal service. 
Agents were put into the field to deliver lectures, and distribute 
literature emphasizing the crime of slavery. The Abolition 
society of Massachusetts, with which I was officially connected 
as an agent previous to the formation of the Liberty party in 
1840, put three or four able lecturers into the field, of whom 
Henry B. Stanton was the leader. They visited every section 
of the state for the express purpose of stimulating political ac- 
tion. At the close of the campaign we found that the expen- 
ditures exceeded the receipts by $4,500. Ten volunteers were 
called for who would personally assume one tenth each of the 
deficit. Districts were assigned to each of these sponsors, in 
which he might collect what he could. I remember that after 
my collections there was still a deficit of $250, which I paid. 
Whether others met with greater or less success in their efforts 
I cannot say; This I may say, that all these pioneers cheer- 
fully aided the cause according to their ability, through the 
whole thirty years' campaign. What is best of all, many of 
them lived to see and rejoice in the triumph of the cause for 
which they had labored and prayed. 

As the result of the Civil War the claim that a state has a 
right to secede from the Union is forever repudiated. Ameri- 
can slavery is obliterated in all our domain, and the race that 
it has wronged and degraded for generations has at last a 



49 

chance, and with such a Moses as Booker T. Washington as its 
inspiration and leader, may hope to rise to a self-respecting 
and respected citizenship. 

In giving this narrative of the commencement and progress 
of the antislavery movement, which preceded and precipitated 
the Civil War, I trust I may be excused for relating so much 
that is personal on the ground that from my very boyhood I 
was so deeply interested in the event that was the crowning 
glory of the Civil War. The emancipation of every slave in the 
United States, and the guarantee of liberty to him and his posterity 
— to this achievement I consecrated thirty-five years of the 
most active period of my life, and I thank God in this evening 
time of an extended career for all He has enabled me to under- 
take and accomplish in connection with this magnificent result; 
also that He permitted so many comrades in the early days of 
the campaign to congratulate each other after the complete 
victory. 

Another fact justifies my story — I am the last survivor of the 
originators of the antislavery movement, and in my 92 d year 
it is my pleasure to embalm their names and services by an 
honorable mention. If the saying of Dr. Gunsaulus is true, 
" Statesmanship is the art of finding where God is, and remain- 
ing with Him until your minority of one comes to be a majority 
of many," these men were statesmen. 



CHAPTER IV. 

CURRENT LIFE. 
CHILDHOOD, BOYHOOD, EDUCATION, BUSINESS ENTERPRISES, ETC. 

I begin this narrative when my personal consciousness be- 
gins. The first event in my childhood that my memory recalls 
is of a surgical operation performed on the crown of my head 
when I was three years old, the scar of which is still visible. 
A second memory is of a great cyclone in September, 1815, 
which came up from Narragansett Bay and swept over the 
woodlands of South Franklin, doing great damage to the forests 
and roads. The havoc wrought upon my father's farm in the 
prostration of large trees, one of which stood near our house, 
others in the orchard, made a deep impression upon me, — a 
child of four years. 

To utilize the forests and the large pasture oaks prostrated by 
the gale, new industries were developed in the neighborhood, 
of which no history has ever been published. Among these 
was collecting bark for tanneries, sawing of lumber for boat 
building in Boston, for which there was great demand to revive 
commerce after the great embargo in the War of 18 12, char- 
coal for smelting furnaces, in reducing iron ore for iron 
products, and the production of firewood for family use suffi- 
cient for many years. Thesawmill of my father was kept run- 
ning day and night at times to supply the demands of boat 
builders. Here I learned my first business as a mill sawyer of 
the old style, in which I became an adept at the age of fifteen. 
The old sawmill, now in ruins, was recently visited by me, and 
a small miniature of myself made. 

My boyhood was spent in the largest and oldest house 
(called the Fairbanks house), and upon the largest farm in 
South Franklin, at one time comprising nearly five hundred 
acres, and I was familiar with the methods and incidents of 
the life of one hundred years ago, some of which I will men- 
tion. 



5i 

The parents' bed was generally in the living room, with a 
trundle bed on rollers underneath for the younger children. 
The fireplaces were from four to six feet wide. Stoves and 
hard, coal for family use being unknown, great logs were the 
staple for fires, which were allowed to cool down in the even- 
ing, and on retiring the coals were buried in ashes. If the 
coals died out a piece of flint was struck upon steel, and the 
spark therefrom, dropping into the tinder box, sufficed to light 
a candle, with which to kindle the fire. Tallow candles offered 
the only illumination at night. Sheep were kept and flax 
raised to furnish cloth for garments and bedding. ' The wool 
and flax were spun and woven in the family. Homespun lin- 
sey-woolsey was much in use for clothing. A dye-tub was a 
feature in all homes for coloring yarns and cloth. It was com- 
mon to employ a tailoress to make the clothing for the house- 
hold. No shoes were on sale for common wear. Some em- 
ployed shoemakers at their homes, others went to his work- 
shop and left their measures and orders. Many farmers kept 
geese, and all slept on feather beds and pillows. Let me re- 
late an important personal incident in respect to wardrobe. 
When I was ten or twelve years of age I wanted a new coat. 
My mother said, " When you are fourteen you shall have a 
broadcloth coat with a velvet collar, and a ruffled shirt." At 
the appointed time I went to the tailor's for the coat, and my 
mother made the ruffled shirt. I was thus adorned for society, 
and soon after was invited to an evening party, four miles 
away, with a lady, as were other young men, and did not reach 
home till two o'clock the next morning, an unusual dissipation. 

" Manners" were required at school (a bow from the boys 
and curtesy from the girls) when coming in and going out, also 
by the classes on the floor before and after recitations. When 
meeting carriages on the street manners were made. In the 
matter of games, Dr. Emmons said those of chance were not 
right ; those of skill, like chess and checkers, were allowable ; 
cards were harmful ; dancing was very unpopular. 

Many households engaged in braiding straw for bonnets. 
This product was exchanged largely in barter at the stores for 
goods. Children eight or ten years old joined their mothers 



52 

and the housemaids in this occupation. Some families laid 
up hundreds of dollars in this industry. I was early set a stint 
of five or ten yards a day. Household domestics received 
$1.50 per week and board for wages. 

When three years of age I commenced my education in the 
district school, the schoolhouse being next to our dwelling. 
The teacher, Miss Sally Lethbridge, led me to school, and at 
ninety years of age, told me this fact with much pleasure. 
When I was five years of age my father taught the winter 
term, as he did six years before, my mother then being a very 
agreeable pupil. I continued in this school till my fifteenth 
year, and then went to Day's academy in Wrentham for a year 
or so afterwards. I became a teacher of a district school in 
my seventeenth year. Next, I served as a clerk in a large 
store in Providence till my eighteenth year, when I returned to. 
Day's academy and studied the classics for college and a pro- 
fession. I entered Amherst college in 1832, where my health 
failed after a year's study, and I was forced to give up my 
cherished plan of devoting myself to a professional career, and 
went back to the clerkship in Providence that I had left for 
study in Day's academy and Amherst college. I afterwards 
conducted the grocery business as principal for five years in 
Franklin and Westborough, while I was postmaster. While in 
the latter place I married Eleanor Metcalf, aforementioned, 
on the 22d day of August, 1836. 

I afterwards engaged in the manufacture of straw goods in 
Medway, Mass. In connection with this business, Mr. A. E. 
Daniels, a manufacturer in the same industry in Franklin, and 
myself, projected the American Straw' Goods Association, 
which soon comprised all the straw goods manufacturers in the 
country, with one exception. I was elected secretary and 
treasurer of this organization, and was delegated to go to 
Washington in the interest of this Association, to confer with 
ex-Gov. Boutwell, who was the revenue tax commissioner on 
all manufactured articles. I retained my office in the Associa- 
tion after I had left the business until it was dissolved. 

After some ten years in the straw business my health 
gave out again, and I dropped active business. In 1853 I 




Eleanor (Metcalf) Fisher. 

My Wife, and Mary, ray Daughter. 



53 

started in a small way an insurance agency, having an uncle 
who was president of an insurance company in Oswego, N. Y. 
The next year, however, I returned to the straw goods business, 
and later associated Abram S. Harding and Oscar M. Bassett 
(the latter having charge of our New York store) with me as 
partners, to whom, after the close of the war, I sold out. I 
then revived the insurance business, which grew to large pro- 
portions for a country agency, making straw goods manufac- 
tories a specialty. My son continues this business, and in late 
years I have attended to the interests of the Medway Savings 
Bank and to the care of real estate. 

My personal operations, both in lands and buildings, began 
in 1847, an d the first deal was for the benefit of the village 
church in Medway and its vicinity. Horse sheds had become 
a necessity for attendants at that church who were obliged to 
ride, — there was a plat of land on the west side of the church 
which was available, as it was too narrow for house lots. Some 
advocated its purchase for sheds, which would open directly 
upon the street. I felt that part of this land should be held 
for a park and better access to the church, but the greater part 
for residence and business purposes. I laid out by plan for 
two streets and four building lots and sold them at auction 
upon which buildings were erected as they now appear. The 
excess, at sale, above cost of about $800, was $175, "which was 
expended to enclose the park with stone posts and chains and 
for trees and shrubs. 

Since those days the park has been enclosed by a substantial 
wrought-iron fence, Milton H. Sanford paying the cost, and 
the trees I set out have grown to great size. My first land 
venture is conceded by all to have added much to the attract- 
iveness of this section of the village. 

During the same year my firm of Metcalf & Fisher bought 
an acre of land on the south side of Village street fronting on 
the park, and erected two buildings for our straw works and 
one for the residence of Mr. Metcalf. 

We soon outgrew these buildings and removed to the large 
building north of the park, occupied at that time, in part, as 
an Odd Fellows' hall. This was enlarged from time to time by 



54 

myself and subsequent owners, most recently by Hirsh & Park, 
the present efficient proprietors. 

In company with Messrs. Eaton & Wilson and Clark Par- 
tridge we purchased the village hotel and furnishings, and 
built the large stable, since burned. We enlarged and re- 
modeled the building and stipulated, in leasing it, that no 
liquors should be sold on the premises. With many others I 
was interested in the erection of the Sanford Hall building — 
with stores on the ground floor and halls above. The chief 
donors were M. H. Sanford and Edward, his brother, and in 
recognition of their generosity to Medway the building was 
given the family name. For my personal service in this enter- 
prise I received the thanks of the family .with a request that I 
procure a portrait, to be painted by Deacon Anson Daniels, as 
a suitable memorial for the hall at their expense. 

The next enterprise in which I was connected with others 
was the projection and building of the Sanford Woolen Mills. 

It was felt by many that Medway needed an increase of in- 
dustries. Those interested proposed that Milton Sanford, who 
had always been Medway's greatest benefactor, be approached 
in regard to this new project. I had a letter prepared and 
sent to him. He replied that he would give $10,000 to any 
accredited manufacturer of woolens who would erect and equip 
a four-set mill. The proposal was advertised, and letters and 
circulars were sent to woolen operators in many places. After 
some delay Mr. Samuel Hodgson, who was carrying on the 
business in Wales, Worcester county, and wanted better facili- 
ties, responded in person to the advertisement. A member of 
the firm of Eaton & Wilson — which firm contributed largely 
towards the capital stock of the company, and gave valuable 
oversight in erection of mill — went with him to see Mr. San- 
ford. The conference was satisfactory and terms were agreed 
upon under which the mill was built, equipped, and operated 
by Mr. Hodgson successfully for several years, then a change 
of tariff and English competition paralyzed this industry, and 
in common with many others this mill shut down and the sub- 
scribers to the stock lost all of their investment. Their per- 
sonal loss has proved to be a public benefit. Under improved 



55 

trade conditions the mill has been operated by Cole, Senior 
& Co., for many years successfully. 

Hon. Clark Partridge joined me in the purchase of a large 
tract of land between Holliston street and Lover's Lane, on 
which we built four small cottages and called the colony "New 
Chicago." Edward Eaton and I bought the Clark Walker 
farm and divided it for sale to other parties. The main house 
we sold to Deacon Timothy Fairbanks. We also bought the 
Aaron White farm near Populatic pond. A small syndicate 
bought and sold, without much improvement, the Julius Hurd 
house, more recently owned and occupied by the late Moses E. 
Thompson. There being more land in the Sanford Hall lot 
than was needed, the first board of trustees sold a lot for the 
erection of the present Catholic church, they having first pur- 
chased a large dwelling and its lot fronting on Main street, 
that was necessary to make our lot desirable. The Catholic 
society having raised .all the money they could still needed 
$1,000 to build the church. 

On stating the fact to Mr. Sanford, he said, "Collect what 
you can, and come again." I secured about $400 in addition 
to my own subscription of $100, and he made up the rest and 
the church was built. I recall no other estates bought and 
sold in association with any other persons. 

My personal transactions in real estate were the purchase of 
fourteen acres of the Barber land situated between Main street 
and the Charles river, reaching from Joseph Thompson's house 
to Neelon street, on which I erected two of the first buildings, 
which I afterward sold, and the remainder of the land. Next 
the purchase of twelve acres opposite the Otis Fairbanks 
house, with a residence thereon, in which I lived for two 
years. I also sold a few house lots on Holliston street, and 
land north of the railroad station, now occupied by the 
Hodges shops. The land for the two cemeteries, Protestant 
and Catholic, was my purchase, also thirty acres of woodland 
on Oakland street. 

The appraisal of the properties aforesaid, and others not 
specified, at the original cost of land, including the buildings 
since erected upon them, cannot be much less than $400,000. 



56 

As guardian, executor, or in other legal capacity in Medway 
and other towns, the property I have handled would add 
$50,000 more without doubt. 

I may be permitted in this connection to speak of my offi- 
cial relations. In town affairs I think I served on every 
executive board from fence viewer to selectman and school 
committee ; on this board I served in the aggregate nearly 
twelve years. 

I was, in i858-'59, twice elected in the West Norfolk dis- 
trict by a large majority to the state senate. In 1863 I was 
elected county commissioner for Norfolk county, serving on 
this board for nine years, being chairman three years. I 
received the appointment of justice of the peace for the county 
and state, and served as trial justice and notary before local 
justices existed. With two others I was appointed one of the 
commissioners by the governor to divide the town of Danvers. 
The governor appointed me also sole commissioner to examine 
and certify to the accuracy of the rendered accounts of the 
Air Line railroad, and the just apportionment of the same to 
the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 

In connection with the work of our board of county commis- 
sioners, I have published in the Dedham Transcript seventeen 
articles respecting highways and railroad crossings that came 
under our jurisdiction, and received many letters from towns 
interested, v on the importance of our work. 

In 187 1, after conference with others, I secured a charter 
for a savings bank in Medway, and was elected its first presi- 
dent, an office that I have held continuously to the present 
time (1902) and been in service to the present time. 

I have held official relation with the American Board of 
Missions, American Missionary Association, American and 
Foreign Christian Union, Massachusetts Bible Society, the 
Wendell Phillips Association, Whittier Home Association, 
Forefathers' Monument Association, director in the Massa- 
chusetts Total Abstinence Society and the Washingtonian 
Home, and various other organizations of a similar nature. 

As Medway village had no cemetery within its limits, the 
residents there were obliged to bury their dead several miles 



57 

distant from their family homes, at much cost and discomfort. 
In 1864 I found on the very borders of the village what seemed 
to me a most eligible site for a cemetery. The land was high, 
and concealed by thick woods. This I quietly secured, and by 
the help of skilful engineers it was laid out for burial purposes. 
One central lot was reserved for decorative purposes. In this 
the annual memorial services of the G. A. R. have been held 
ever since its organization. 

When all was ready for the formal opening, I suggested that 
the citizens cooperate with me in the maintenance and admin- 
istration of the Oakland cemetery, but was advised to take 
the whole care, and venture of loss or gain that might result — 
a^service that I have performed for nearly twenty-eight years. 

After the formal consecration of the place by religious ser- 
vices, June 20, 1865, and the appraisal of lots by an impartial 
committee, twenty or more lots were taken. The first burial 
was of Mrs. Mary Darling, who was one hundred and three 
years old at her death, an age unmatched by any citizen before 
or since. 

Twenty-four years later I offered to donate the cemetery, 
with land sufficient for burial purposes for a hundred years, to 
the village church and society. The valuation of the property 
at cost was $724, there was on deposit $200, for general care, 
also $775, for perpetual care of family lots; these amounts and 
the obligations they entailed were also to be placed in the 
hands of the prospective trustees. The society accepted the 
gift and the trust by vote, with thanks, and chose a board of 
trustees to administer the same. 

After fifty years' service, the bell of the village church 
became cracked and unmelodious. I agreed to replace it by 
a new and larger bell, a proposition that was readily accepted, 
and a new bell was placed in position Oct. 28, 1890, at an 
expense of $300. 

The pastor of the church, Rev. R. K. Harlow, on the follow-* 
ing Sabbath preached a sermon on "The Church Bell, Its 
Uses and Value," from which the following extract is made : 



58 

Young as the new bell is, precious associations endear it. It 
memorializes the donor, Dea. M. M. Fisher, and is a thank-offering 
from him, for eighty years of life (wanting only three months for its 
completion), and for fifty years 1 continuous service as deacon of this 
church, completed at the September communion — a prolongation of 
life and of service which he recognizes as due to God's favoring provi- 
dence, and for which he is profoundly grateful. A life which we 
have a right to characterize as useful, and a service which we have a 
right to characterize as faithful — and when this useful life is done, 
and this faithful service is ended ; when the voice that has for fifty 
years pleaded with God in behalf of this people, and with this people 
in behalf of God, is hushed in death, we trust this bell will keep in 
memory this double pleading, as it fills the air with suggestive 
echoes. 

If no calamity befall it, the bell has a future grander and richer 
than anything the world has yet seen. On its face is an inscription 
from England's poet laureate, which is prophetic. It charges the 
bell to 

" Ring in the valiant man and free, 

The eager heart, the kindlier hand; 
Ring out the darkness of the land, 
Ring in the Christ that is to be." 

While these last mentioned gifts are the largest single dona- 
tions I ever made to the village church or society with which 
I have been identified, as member and officer, for sixty-two 
years, I am sure that no one acquainted with the facts will 
deny that I have cheerfully contributed my share to its regular 
support and to all extra expense in the enlargement of its 
equipment, as well as to its outside charities. 

By my birth and home training I was well disposed toward 
religion, and early felt my personal obligation to lead an 
upright, temperate, and pious life. In my twenty-first year I 
publicly declared my purpose to enter upon such a life, and 
united with the Congregational church in Franklin, honored 
by the long pastorate of Dr. Nathaniel Emmons. Four years 
later, having removed to Westborough, I united with the Congre- 
gational church there. In September, 1840, having become a 
citizen of Medway, I joined the village Congregational church, 
under Rev. David Sanford. I was soon after elected deacon, 



59 

and have continued in that office ever since, being at this time 
(1902) in my sixty-second year of service. During most of 
my life I have been connected with the Sunday-school as a 
pupil, teacher, or officer. In the frequent illness of the pas- 
tor, Rev. Mr. Sanford, especially in his later years, the care of 
the Sunday evening service has often devolved upon me, and 
in my busiest years it was my uniform practice to participate 
in the weekly conference meeting. In the absence of a minis- 
ter I have sometimes officiated at a funeral service and in 
public church service. 

Temperance has been as much of a specialty with me as the 
antislavery reform. I early took the total abstinence pledge, 
and have renewed it many times. When Father Matthew 
was in our country, a district convention was called to meet 
him in Canton. With others I attended, and took the pledge 
from him on my bended knees, a very impressive ceremony. 
I still hold the document as a pleasant memento. 

In my academy days I frequently went into the surrounding 
districts and gave addresses on temperance in the various 
schoolhouses. At a meeting in River End (then Franklin), 
after the speaking, an invitation was given to any one present 
to sign the pledge. To the surprise and pleasure of all, a man 
of intemperate habits, but of unusual intelligence, stepped up 
and signed. His succeeding life proved the genuineness of 
his purpose, and as he was a pleasing and effective speaker, 
his aid was afterward frequently sought for in temperance 
campaigns. This incident 1 could not forget, as it seemed to 
me a grateful endorsement of my crude youthful service. 

A BROOKLINE INCIDENT. 

As chairman of the board of county commissioners, in my 
report of work on a street in Brookline, I provided that if the 
town should be annexed to Boston before the work was com- 
pleted, "the county would not pay the town the sum of $10,000 
as provided in the report." If otherwise, it would. A citizen 
procured a writ of certiorari to annul the whole proceeding. 
After a hearing in the case before the presiding judge, Horace 
Grey, now of the Supreme Court of the United States, he 



6o 



annulled the writ, and said "it was a very wise provision," 
which was inserted in the report. There was always a lawyer 
on the board as chairman before I was elected. My deci- 
sions in all questions of law coming before our board were 
always sustained in the courts of the county and state. 




Luther Metcalf. 

Father of my Wife. 



CHAPTER V. 

MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES. 

Anti-annexation . 

In my estimation the most important service I have ren- 
dered to my native county, Norfolk, was in opposing the 
scheme first, of the annexation of the city of Roxbury to Bos- 
ton, and later, the annexation of Brookline to Boston. In 1859 
and i860 I represented the West Norfolk district in the senate 
of Massachusetts. In the session of 1859 a petition signed by 
Dr. J. V. C. Smith and sixty-seven other gentlemen, residents 
of Roxbury and Boston, was presented to the joint committee 
on towns of both houses, praying that Roxbury be annexed to 
Boston. A majority of the committee reported favorably on the 
petition. With others, I strenuously opposed the measure. By 
courtesy I was assigned to close the debate, in reply to the ma- 
jority report and the remarks of the chairman. I argued that no 
exigency that required annexation existed, that the reasons in 
favor were trivial, that the majority in Roxbury were against 
annexation, that it would entail a loss and damage upon Nor- 
folk county in area, population, and valuation, and closed as 
follows : 

"Will senators rob the native-born citizens of Roxbury of 
their corporate existence, and blot their mother's name from 
the record on the petition of only thirty-four petititioners to 
four hundred remonstrants ? Will they, against the remon- 
strances of nearly four thousand of her intelligent people, de- 
range the internal polity of Norfolk county, and remove from 
her jurisdiction twenty thousand of her inhabitants and nearly 
twenty millions of her wealth ? Will they concentrate in one 
municipality a power that will disturb the settled policy of the 
state, and control her destinies forever ? Mr. President, I can- 
not believe it." 

The vote that followed stood twelve in the affirmative, seven- 



62 

teen in the negative. The next day I received the following 
letter from the Hon. John J. Clark, mayor of Roxbury : 

[Copy.] 

Dear Sir : — I regret I was not able to hear your remarks yester- 
day upon the question of annexing Roxbury to Boston. Friends, and 
those in favor of preserving the control of Roxbury from the control 
of Boston, are loud in praises of your speech. They speak of it as 
being very able and pertinent, and feel exceedingly grateful for your 
interest and services in their behalf. For them, and myself, please 
accept their, and my, warmest and most heartfelt thanks. 

Very respectfully your obliged and obedient servant, 

John J. Clark. 
Boston, March 23, 1859. 

To Hon. M. M. Fisher. 

The Dedham Gazette of April 2, 1859, says: "The speech 
of Hon. M. M. Fisher of this district contributed very much to 
defeat the measure." 

Hon. Geo. H. Monroe, editor of the Hyde Park Gazette, 
wrires : " Hon. M. M. Fisher, in the senate, made a very able 
speech against the annexation of Roxbury to Boston, and was 
largely instrumental in its early defeat." 

Hon. Chauncy Churchill, treasurer of Norfolk county, said : 
"The defeat of annexation from 1859 to 1867 saved the 
county $75,000." 

Seven years later annexation was consummated, but at that 
time the county was better able to sustain the loss. 

In December, 187 1, notice was officially published that a 
petition would be presented to the next legislature for the an- 
nexation of the town of Brookline to the city of Boston. I was 
at that time chairman of the board of commissioners for Nor- 
folk county. The board, " as the official guardians of the pub- 
lic property and interests of the county," issued a call "to. the 
selectmen of the several towns, and such delegations as the 
citizens may appoint, or as desire to attend, to meet at Tem- 
perance hall, in Dedham, on Thursday, the 28th inst., at 10 
a. m., to take such action as in their judgment the exigency 
requires." 



63 

This call was signed by Milton M. Fisher. David H. Bates, 
Galen Orr, commissioners. 

The meeting was quite largely attended by the selectmen of 
most of the towns in the county, and by other citizens inter- 
ested in the matter. As chairman of the board I called the 
meeting to order and stated that the board had no settled pol- 
icy or plan of action to suggest. They were ready to perform 
any service that might properly be imposed upon them, or give 
any information which they possessed. They are not anxious 
to spend weeks at the state house at their own expense, as 
they have hitherto done, nor, without instruction, to employ 
others at the expense of the county to defend the interests of 
the county of Norfolk, even to prevent one of its brightest 
gems from being wrested from its setting. * 

The meeting organized, appointed a committee to draft reso- 
lutions, for consideration and action. Said committee reported 
as follows : 

Resolved, That it is the unanimous sense of this convention, that 
the Board of County Commissioners ot this county, with a special com- 
mittee of five to be appointed by this meeting, be instructed to act as 
a joint committee, charged with the duty of opposing, by all honor- 
able means, the annexation of any territory of the county of Norfolk 
to the city of Boston. 

The resolution was adopted unanimously, and the following 
gentlemen were chosen to act with the board of commissioners 
under the resolution : William Aspinwall of Brookline, Francis 
A. Hobart of Braintree, Eliphalet Stone of Dedham, J. White 
Belcher of Randolph, and J. Q. A. Lothrop of Cohasset. This 
joint committee at once issued the following circular letter: 

To the Selectmen of the Several Towns in the Coimty of A r orfolk : 

■Gentlemen : The undersigned, a committee appointed by a con- 
vention holden at Dedham, December 28, 1871, and charged with 
the duty of protecting the county from further disintegration by the 
annexation of its wealthier and more populous towns to the City of 
Boston, deem it very desirable that Remonstrances be very widely cir- 

* The loss of Brookline to Norfolk county would have been of a large and intelli- 
gent population possessing one sixth of her valuation. 



6 4 

culated and signed throughout the county, and that the towns in their 
corporate capacity should take strong and decisive action against the 
great expansion of the City of Boston and the County of Suffolk, al- 
ready large and overshadowing in their influence, at the expense of 
the county of Norfolk or any of its municipalities. 

We earnestly desire, therefore, that you would urge your citizens to 
unite in an efficient remonstrance against this scheme, and that in 
your -warrant for the next town meeting, annual or special, you would 
have an article upon this subject. 

We trust you will urge upon your representatives and senators the 
importance of early and unceasing efforts to resist this proposed 
measure, based upon a restless and selfish desire for change of mu- 
nicipal relations, which will, at most, benefit the few at the expense 
of the many. 

. M. M. FISHER, 
DAVID H. BATES, 
GALEN ORR, 

Coimty Commissioners . 

WM. ASPINWALL, 

F. A. HOBART, 

ELIPHALET STONE, 

J. O. A. LOTHROP, 

J. WHITE BELCHER, 

Committee. 
• 

Each one of the committee subsequently worked with the 
members of the legislature without employing lobbyists, and 
defeated the petition, and Brookline continues an independent 
municipality. In recognition of the service of the joint com- 
mittee the county paid each member $100. 

I have always made free use of my pen and have written 
articles for some twenty religious and secular papers in the 
last seventy years. 

I prepared a series of fifteen papers on the Fisher family, 
which were published in the Norfolk County Tribune, also three 
series of articles for the Dedham Transcript, yiz., seven on the 
organization of the Liberty party, five on the scheme to de- 
plete Norfolk county by annexing a third part of it to Boston 
of which Brookline was the only section saved, and seventeen 
articles on the work of the county commissioners during the 
period between 1862 and 1872. 



I have frequently been invited to make addresses in public 
assemblies — outside of my official service — viz., at the many 
sessions of the Free Soil party, on Decoration Days, at church 
conferences, and on the anniversary days of towns and 
churches, services which I cheerfully rendered. 

I have had a pleasant acquaintance with many of the promi- 
nent men of my time, and cherish the autograph letters of men 
who have held the highest positions in the gift of the nation, 
the state, the church, the social and industrial world. 

Education. 

I was always interested in the public schools, and served on 
the school board in Westborough and afterwards in Medway 
many years, a part of the time as chairman. 

I think my most important service was in connection with 
the establishment and maintenance of the high school. As 
early as 1843 I broached the matter in town meeting, with no 
other result than awakening attention. When, by law, the 
town was required to maintain such school, some progress was 
made by one experiment and another to meet the requirement. 
For towns like Medway, that had no common center, I sug- 
gested the plan of allowing such to obtain high school instruc- 
tion in neighboring towns that sustained a high school, the 
accommodated town paying the tuition for its pupils. 

In 1866 I sent a petition to the legislature, with a form of 
bill covering in substance what now exists, and argued the 
same before the committee on education, to whom the bill was 
referred, and although personally favored by them delay was 
advised and the matter was not acted upon at this session. 
Not long afterward all that I had suggested, and much more, 
was granted by legislative enactment, and not a town in the 
state is without high school privileges. 

Town History. 

The publication of the " Town History of Medway" was at 
my suggestion. I outlined the plan of the work and arranged 
its topics, nominated the committee of authorship, and the 
requisite appropriation was made ; I also prepared for publica- 



66 

tion articles on railroads, manufactures, biography, genealogy, 
and other topics, which covered about forty pages of the vol- 
ume. 

Railroads. 

The project of railway facilities for Medway took form in 
1845 * n a petition for a railroad from Boston to Woonsocket. 
I was a member of the town's committee for preparing this pe- 
tition, then for presenting it before the committee on railroads 
in the legislature, and arguing its claims. We afterwards 
enlarged the petition to include a railway from Boston to New 
York, known as the "Air Line." Owing to the opposition of 
the Boston & Providence and Boston & Albany roads, Med- 
way was not connected with Boston by rail till 186 1, and not 
till 1863 was the road completed to Woonsocket. In the vari- 
ous stages of this project a large expenditure of time, energy, 
and money was required from those most interested in its suc- 
cess. 




Sarah (Phipps) Metcalf. 

Second Wife of I^uther Metcalf. 



CHAPTER VI. 

HONORABLE MENTION. 

Having known something of the derision and persecution 
that commonly attends the early espousal of an unpopular 
reform it is a pleasure to have seen all that displaced by a cor- 
dial popular recognition of the significance and value of those 
early sacrifices. The old antislavery guard have often been 
enthusiastically honored in public assemblies, for their persist- 
ent efforts for the abolishment of slavery, and it was my joy 
to stand among them in their triumph, as I had stood with 
them in their battle. 

I had the pleasure of being present with many other aboli- 
tionists, as guests of the town of Amesbury and the city of 
Haverhill, at the memorial service in honor of John G. Whit- 
tier, also as a guest of the city of Newburyport, at the unveil- 
ing of the statue in memory of William Lloyd Garrison. 

I was appointed one of twenty as an advisory board, on the 
erection of a memorial statue of John G. Whittier, poet and 
patriot, in the town of Amesbury, to cost $10,000. The names 
of some others on this board are Secretary John Hay, Senator 
Geo. F. Hoar, Rev. Lyman Abbott, D. D., and Theodore Cuy- 
ler, D. D., President W. F. Slocum of Colorado college, Presi- 
dent Booker T. Washington of Tuskegee, Alabama. 

Of other public functions to which I was invited I will men- 
tion the laying of the .corner-stone of the monument to Cap- 
tain Myles Standish at Duxbury, the 250th anniversary of the 
settlement of Dedham, and the celebration of the completion 
of the new Norfolk County court house, in Dedham, at which 
I responded to a toast. 

On the 70th anniversary of my birth, Jan. 30, 1881, my 
friends and fellow-citizens arranged for a celebration of the 
event, and sent out invitations to a large number of persons 



68 

with whom I have been associated in one way or another. At 
the appointed hour Sanford hall was filled with guests ; a sat- 
isfying banquet was served to about two hundred people. 
Then the tables were cleared and Rev. R. K. Harlow, pastor 
of the village church, on behalf of the committee of arrange- 
ments, called the assembly to order. He tendered a welcome 
to all and presented to myself the congratulations of the 
townspeople, paying a tribute to my services in both public 
and private life. 

He read letters from relatives and friends and a telegram 
from my brother-in-law, George P. Metcalf, Esq., of Framing- 
ham, to wit: — " Give my congratulations to the old Locofoco, 
and the sincere well wishes of his kinsman." Remarks were 
made by Wellington G. H. Hunt, Esq., of Boston, Rev. Alexis 
Ide of West Medway, Rev. E. O. Jameson of East Medway, 
Rev. Dr. Spaulding of Newburyport, a brother-in-law, and 
Rev. James M. Bell of West Medway, who, in the absence of 
its author, read a poem written for the occasion byDea. Anson 
Daniels of West Medway, a long-time and^ valued friend of 
mine. The poem was entitled " The Garden Beyond the Iron 
Gate." The first stanza reads as follows : 

" Across life's road there 's an iron gate 
Bolted and barred by the hand of fate ; 
Threescore and ten are its iron bars, 
Threescore and ten are its rusty spars. 
It is riveted thick again and again, 
And the number of rivets is threescore and ten. 
Remorselessly shut on the human crew, 
It noiselessly swings for only a few — 
Only a few of the struggling crowd 
Arrive at this portal, toil-worn and bowed, 
With heads all white with the dust of the way, 
Or a polished scalp above the gray — 
Like a mountain dome above the pines, 
Or a boulder, round which the snow reclines. " 

Then the poet describes the leisure of the garden with its 
pleasing reminiscences and happy anticipations, and closes 
thus: 



6 9 

" May he who yesterday stepped through the gate 
Find the joys that abound in this garden of fate ; 
And be cheered by the music that floats from the shore 
Beyond the dark waves where is life evermore." 

During the evening letters of regret at inability to be pres- 
ent were read from distant relatives and from Rev. Wm. M. 
Thayer of Franklin, Rev. Mortimer Blake, D. D., of Taunton, 
a poem from Rev. Sanford Horton, D. D., letters from Hon. 
Samuel Warner of Wrentham, Prof. H. B. Richardson of 
Amherst college, Prof. Gilbert O. Fay of Hartford, Rev. Jacob 
Ide of Mansfield, C. A. Richardson, managing editor of 
The Congregationalism Hon. Nathaniel F. Safford, ex-Sheriff 
John- W. Thomas, Hon. William Claflin, Rev. Edwin Thomp- 
son, Erastus Worthington, clerk of the court at Dedham, Dis- 
trict Attorney French, and many others. 

The exercises closed with prayer by Rev. Dr. Spaulding of 
Newburyport. The audience were then served with hot coffee, 
and dispersed, well pleased with the events of the evening. 

A few of these many letters I insert as follows : 

From Hon. F. W. Bird, a political associate and comrade in 
the antislavery conflict. 

East Walpole, Jan. 31, 1881. 
Mine Ancient and Dear Friend: I have delayed until this 
morning replying to the invitation of the committee (which, by the 
way, has got mislaid, and I therefore write to you) to join with your 
friends in congratulating you upon reaching your 70th birthday. It 
would give me great pleasure to be with you this evening ; but I must 
deny myself all such gratifications. At our age — as I doubt not you 
have discovered — we must respect our limitations ; and mine are get- 
ting very narrow. I would like to sit down with you in front of a 
cosy, quiet, wood fire and talk over old times — the good old times — 
when we enlisted under the banners of the brave and grand men who 
fought the early battles against slavery. " There were giants in the 
earth in those days. 1 ' Palfrey, Adams, and Whittier still among the 
living; Phillips, Allen, Sumner, Howe, Wilson, Andrew, Burlingame, 
Hopkins, Richard Hildreth, Robinson, Webb, Keyes — these have 
gone to their reward. No commonwealth in ancient or modern times 
can produce such an array of noble men. You and I knew them all- 



7° 

knew them in their daily and untiring devotion to our great cause ; 
howin the early days of the antislavery struggles, when Massachu- 
setts, and I think I may say specially Norfolk county, were dominated 
by an arrogant Whig oligarchy, they and their associates were the 
objects of a political and social proscription as malignant as it was 
unsparing. We who met with them in their conferences know how 
unselfish and pure were their aims and motives, and feel that the 
inspiration of their labors and lives have constantly tended to ennoble 
ours. If ever I am inclined despondingly to compare the present with 
the past, 

" All my fears are laid aside 

If I but remember only, 

Such as these have lived and died.' 1 

Those were good times. Year after year we went through our 
political campaigns — beaten every time, as we knew we should 
be — but the next day after election springing, like old Antaeus, from 
the ground, with renewed strength and courage. 

Looking at my watch, I find I have not another moment to spare. 
Perhaps it is as well, or I don't know how long I should have talked 
in this loose way. I can only give you my heartiest wishes for a long 
and happy evening to a life so well spent. 

Faithfully yours, 

F. W. Bird. 

As the date of my ninetieth birthday, Jan. 30, 1901, drew 
near, I prepared a card of announcement, which I sent to my 
many relatives and friends resident in various parts of the 
country. 

On the day itself I quietly received in my home the con- 
gratulations of many callers, with letters from the absent. 
The responses to the birthday cards, in person or by letter, 
amounted to nearly two hundred. The letters came from 
forty different cities and towns, located in seven states of the 
Union. A few of these I publish. Senator George F. Hoar 
writes : 

Committee on the Judiciary, 
United States Senate, 

Washington, D. C, Feb. 7, 1901. 
My Dear Sir : 

Your letter came when I was laid up in bed with the grippe. Your 
name brings back to me the old memories when I used to hear, of you 



7i 

as a prominent antislavery man, and as active in all good works. I 
hope your days, which have been so long in the land, may be pro- 
longed in. honor, usefulness, and happiness. 

I am, with high regard, faithfully yours, 

Geo. F. Hoar. 
For Hon. Milton M. Fisher. 



letter from bishop huntington. 

Diocese of Central New York, 

210 Walnut Place, Syracuse, N. Y., 

Jan. 30, 1 90 1. 
My Dear Friend: 

This is the very day! I am not too "late in the day, 11 though we 
are both somewhat late in the years. You are eight years before me. 
I was born at Hadley four days after the Queen's birth. Massachu- 
setts is my fatherland, as of ten or a dozen ancestors. We spend 
about three months of rest and husbandry at the old homestead, 
among cattle and clover and elms, in the loveliness of the Connecti- 
cut river valley, and in sight of Mt. Holyoke, where children and 
grandchildren are with us. So good and patient is the Providence 
of God. 

It is amazing, and it touches my heart, that. you have not forgotten 
me, and those night drives, which I also remember. 

My wife and I have been reading your letter with interest and pleas- 
ure. We wonder a little how I, your junior, could have "taught 
games 11 to you, my senior. No doubt you are as well taken care of 
as I am. We know whom we can trust, the Father of Mercies. 

I think I will send you a picture of my darling little Hannah, RutlVs 
daughter. 

With sincere and grateful regards, 

Cordially, 

T. B. Huntington. 



letter from ex.-gov. claflin (dictated). 

The Old Elms, Newtonville. 

Mr. Claflin congratulates Hon. M. M. Fisher most cordially on his 

ninetieth birthday and desires to express his high appreciation of the 

very honorable position held by Mr. Fisher during the past fifty 

years, and remembers with gratitude his early labors in behalf of 



72 

every good word and work and especially in connection with the great 
antislavery movement in the state. 

Mr. Claflin thanks Mr. Fisher for his kindly remembrance of him 
at this interesting anniversary and regrets that illness prevents him 
from writing with his own hand. 

January 31, 1901. 



LETTER FROM EDMUND DOWSE, D. D. 

He was a classmate in Day's academy and Amherst college. 

Sherborn, Jan. 31, 1901. 
My Dear Brother Fisher : 

We still live, and we will unitedly praise the Lord. We look back 
through a long vista of years. In the academy, the college, and sub- 
sequently in the busy scenes of life, we have been lovingly united in 
the strife to make the right prevail. The good work of love has been 
progressing, and if we have done anything to hasten the final triumph 
of good over evil, God shall have all the praise. We only ask for- 
giveness for past remissness and for strength to be faithful to the end 
of the strife. This is the prayer of your brother and your fellow in 
the service of our common Lord. 

Your Brother, 

Edmund Dowse. 



LETTER FROM REV. DR. PUTNAM. 

Salem, Jan. 30, 1901. 
My Dear Sir : 

Just after I sent you this morning my letter of congratulations, I 
received your anniversary card, for which I heartily thank you. I 
regret I cannot be among those who will call on you to give you 
honor and felicitation that you have so rounded your long and use- 
ful and beneficent life. I trust the day will be a most happy one 
for yourself and your assembled friends. I do not forget that you 
were among the immortals who were present at the first meeting of 
the American Antislavery society early in the thirties, and yet here 
you are still with us, the only surviving member known to us ot the 
old, original "Guard," receiving the thanks and the honors of a 
later generation! Many of us have followed you, though "afar off," 
with trust and blessings, more than you have known about, feeling 
how true it is that "the path of the just is as the shining light that 



73 

shineth more and more unto the perfect day.' 1 Those of us who may 
be permitted to outlive you, will still see to it well that you and such 
as you shall not be forgotten in the rush of events and in the long 
lapse of the year's. Never, more than now, are the lessons of your 
life and of the great principles for which you have so bravely stood 
and fought, needed, sadly needed, by our countrymen, that the glori- 
ous victories of the past may not prove in vain, but may still abide 
and be secure and operative. 

Ever faithfully yours, 

A. P. Putnam. 
Hon. M. M. Fisher. 



letter from col. horace n. fisher. 

2 Milton Road, 

Brookline, Jan. 30, 1901. 
Hon. Milton M. Fisher, 

Medway, Mass. 
My dear friend and ki?isma?i : 

On this, your ninetieth birthday, which your many friends celebrate 
with glad congratulations, allow me to send you my best wishes for 
your health and happiness and my hope that you will long be spared 
to us and will enjoy the sweet contentment of a well spent, useful life. 
As the poet said, "An honest man is the noblest work of God," so 
it may also be said that each stage of life hath its own peculiar beauty 
— the gladsome bubbling over of childhood, the noble aspirations of 
youth, the virile energy and foresight of manhood, and the serene 
wisdom and contentment of old age. God knows which is the more 
attractive ! 

Affectionately your kinsman, 

Horace N. Fisher. 



ADDENDA. 



THE OLD BURYING GROUND. A SON OF FRANKLIN ON ITS CARE 

AND PRESERVATION. 

REMINDERS OF THE PAST AND SUGGESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE 

REMINISCENCES — THE VALUE OF OLD CEMETERIES. 

[written for the sentinel.] 

Having occasion recently to visit the old cemetery in Franklin, my 
native town, to renew and perpetuate the memorials of dear kindred, 
it came to me as never before, what a treasure an old town has in a 
piece of ground where 

" The . . . forefathers of the hamlet sleep." 

I cannot, as the poet hath it, call a people "rude" who could 
appreciate both the metaphysical and practical theology and ministry 
of Emmons for more than fifty years, and who could furnish such cul- 
tured men to the world as Judge Metcalf, Professor Fisher, and 
Horace Mann, and a long line of native born sons and daughters, 
distinguished in the varied walks of life. No, these forefathers must 
be men of finer mould than those of whom the poet wrote. It is 
both pleasant and profitable to commune with these silent forms, 
once here in busy work, now 

" Each in his cell forever laid," 

of whom it may be said, 

" Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield, 

Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe^has broke ; 
How jocund did they- drive their team afield ; 

How bowed the wood beneath their sturdy stroke." 

Now, these farms and fields, redeemed from wild nature and un- 
tamed men — these highways, old dams and mills, are the monuments 



One of the immigrant ancestors of my mother was Jonathan Fair- 
banks, whose house was built in Dedham in 1636 of timber imported 
from England in 1633, and owned and occupied by him and his family 
descendants until sold to the Daughters of the Revolution in 1897 for 
$5,500, including 3,800 square feet of land. In many respects its sur- 
passes any domicile in the United States. During the summer season 
throngs of visitors, from Maine to California, visit this famous dwell- 
ing, whose original owner has a posterity of tens of thousands, many 
of whom were present at a reunion of surpassing interest to all who 
bear the name, in Dedham and Boston, Wednesday, August 27, 1902. 



After the death of my mother, my father (see page 8), at the age 
of seventy-six, married Mehitable Wright, a neighbor, widow of a 
wealthy farmer, — a woman of excellent character, who cared for him 
with great fidelity, during the remainder of his life, and occupied his 
house until her decease. 



75 

of their thrift, and are become the heritage of their children. But 
their virtue and intelligence, their culture and their piety, born of the 
school and the church they planted, are the richest legacy to their 
posterity. It is pleasant to think they lie in " God's acre,' 1 as pre- 
cious seed sown by the Divine Hand, and even now bearing fruit in 
sacred memories to the living, and as times and seasons pass, are 
ripening into an immortal harvest. 

Should I speak of my own personal interest in this old burial place 
of the dead, I shall but echo the voice of many sons of Franklin 
whose life-work has been elsewhere. I find here the ashes of father, 
mother, three sisters, two brothers, two grandfathers and grand- 
mothers, and some of the generations preceding, bearing in order the 
names of Fisher, Fairbanks, Metcalf, Haven, Adams, Ware, Pond, 
and Colburn, together with other and collateral kindred bearing the 
name of Daniels, Gilmore, and others, " which no man can number.' 1 
Though modesty may forbid that I should speak of the prominence 
which some of these names have in local history — "posterity can 
find their record in the archives of both church and state, and 
memory fondly lingers over its brighter pages. 11 I have written these 
lines not merely to gratify a personal sentiment but to emphasize the 
priceless value of this old cemetery as a treasure of sacred associations 
and inspiring memorials of a great congregation of departed souls, 
kindred to a vast multitude living both in their midst and scattered 
throughout the land. The cemetery is often a Mecca to a weary 
pilgrim wandering to find a shrine upon which to lavish the love and 
longings of his heart, and to commune with a kindred soul and with 
the "Spirits of just men made perfect. 11 It is an inspiration to a 
higher and better life — a link in the chain that binds earth to heaven. 

With what care, then, should such a treasure be cherished and 
guarded, and every surrounding object kept in harmony with its value 
and suggestions. The polished shaft, however costly and beautiful 
as a work of art, standing amid the rubbish and dead wood stumps 
and fallen trees, stone heaps and gravel, or bare earth and noxious 
briers and weeds — not so befit the place as grass and flower, shrub 
and tree, made attractive and beautiful through the constant 
thought and care of living and loving kindred, grateful for such 
a rich inheritance, or by a municipality or corporation who hold the 
same in trust. True, the culture and care of a cemetery exclusively 
old or nearly so, may, and should be, different from that required in 
modern burial grounds. Gathering mosses upon old stones are little 
discount upon their value as mementoes of the dear departed. Rude 



76 

tablets of a former age and time lose none of their inspiration, set in 
due order amid tall grasses, sweet briers, and other native flowers 
and shrubs, so familiar to those whom they commemorate. Natural 
beauty blending with rude art in the chiselled stones rather softens 
and heightens their suggestive qualities. Nothing more truly marks 
the refinement of taste and Christian sentiment and, I may add, the 
civilization of a community, than the condition of an ancient ceme- 
tery entrusted to its care and protection. 

Franklin may well boast of its many sons and daughters of a past 
generation, honored in life, many even in modern times living upon 
its soil or elsewhere, successful in business enterprises, and distin- 
guished in other labors. Her citizens have begun a good work in the 
renovation of their old cemetery, located directly under their own 
eyes and those of strangers and of pilgrims to the shrine of their 
fathers. Its prosecution and perfection with the timely aid of their 
new water-works and under the critical taste and skill of a profes- 
sional artist in this department, sustained by a liberal appropriation 
of the town and the voluntary contributions of the rich who love the 
beautiful in sentiment, both in art and nature, and the poor even, 
who owe their very life to the buried forefathers who sleep in these 
grounds — is now a consummation devoutly prayed for by many who 
cherish even the ashes of the dead as a means of life and grace to the 
living. 

M. M. Fisher. 

Medway, June 22, 1886. 



The last of a series of seventeen articles, written by M. M. 
Fisher, chairman of the board of County Commissioners, and 
published in the Dedham Transcript, detailing the work of that 
board on the highways of Norfolk county. This article is a 
sketch of the history of the town of Milton. 

HIGHWAYS AND OTHER INCIDENTS AND REMINISCENCES IN MIL- 
TON, NORFOLK COUNTY, 1863-1872, WITH PERSONAL 
REVIEWS AND LAST WORDS OF THE SERIES. 

{Niunber Seventeen . ) 

The town of Milton, whose Indian name was *** Unquety," had a 
white man's house as early as 1636, and a ferry over the Neponset, 
to get to it, via Dorchester, in 1638, but was not made a town until 
1662, when thirty families were considered sufficient to maintain a 



77 

separate career. Six other towns in the county had a previous cor- 
porate existence, and all show in their early roads the marks of the 
Indian trail, the footprints of the cows, and the sober tramp of Pil- 
grim feet. Pleasant street still shows the sharp angles of early travel 
to reach some settler's humble dwelling, or to avoid a rock, hill, or 
other obstacle, too great to be overcome by slender means. 

The county map discloses the fact that Milton has proportionately 
greater length of straight and broad highways leading to Boston, and 
in part constructed by private corporations, than any other town in 
the county. 

Milton is also distinguished as the residence of men notable in its 
early and later history. It was the summer residence of Governor 
Hutchinson, the author of the first history of Massachusetts Bay, and 
the last Royal Governor, but one, of the colony, being succeeded by 
Governor Gage, who was also obnoxious to the colony. The early 
patriotism of the town is shown in a series of declarations against 
British tyranny, surpassed only by the later declaration of indepen- 
dence. The names of Vose, Tucker, Wadsworth, and many others 
are still found in this ancient town. Both natural and social attrac- 
tions combined have drawn, within sixty years, many men of culture 
and wealth to the town, as may be seen in its records of citizens, and 
especially as taxpayers. In 1850 it was the fourteenth in population 
of the towns in the county, having 2,656, and was the sixth in valua- 
tion, — $1,733,127; in 1890 the eighth in population, 4,278, and in 
1892 the second in valuation, $16,737,122, Brookline only exceeding 
it. The town, with such a valuation and a tax rate of $7.50 per 
$1,000, must be a paradise for men of wealth and culture, if culture 
be in proportion to its wealth. 

In natural scenery Milton surpasses any town in eastern Massa- 
chusetts, in having the highest elevation in the Blue Hills, — 710 feet„ 
with the grand outlook upon a city and suburban population of half a 
million, with the gilded dome of the state house, church spires with- 
out number, the harbors, of ships, and the broad Atlantic, with 
whitened sails, as far as the eye or telescope can reach. It has been 
a marvel of wonder to the writer ever since he spent six months under 
the south declivity of the Great Hill, in early manhood, that im- 
proved access to its summit had not been secured at an earlier period. 
The town has been also long distinguished for two great and 
very successful industries. Here paper making was first established 
in New England in 1728, and exclusive patent, granted by the Gen- 
eral Court, was given to protect the business to a corporation of five 



7 8 

persons for ten years for this purpose. Free trade doctrines were not 
as popular in Milton or New England then as now in this and some 
other localities. The cocoa and chocolate .industry, established by 
Walter Baker & Co., in 1780, is the oldest and largest of its kind on 
the continent. It is situated on both sides of the Neponset river, in 
Milton and Boston. This industry has received the fostering care 
of the national government. Its products have brought cheer and 
comfort to the rich and poor alike, and to labor, capital, and skill a 
fair compensation for more than a century. 



I have occasionally visited Deacon Anson Daniels in his 
modest studio, and invited friends with me, and always with high 
appreciation of the works of his art and great pleasure in his 
intelligent and critical judgment in matters pertaining to his 
profession. Knowing many of the persons whose portraits he 
painted, I am satisfied that he has been more successful in 
reproducing lifelike features and expressions on canvas than 
many who have been better known. The same is true of his 
miscellaneous poems. I betray no secret to some when I refer 
to a poem which has never yet been published, or ever known 
to but few of his more intimate friends. It is of greater length 
than any which he has ever written, and when he read it to me 
I felt, and said to him, "It would do honor even to Whittier, 
and is much in Whittier's style." 

It is due to the name of Deacon Daniels to publish this, 
with many of his miscellaneous poems, in a neat illustrated 
edition, to meet the demand of his numerous friends and 
acquaintances for some tangible memorial of his many virtues. 
But Deacon Daniels was more than a poet or artist. He was 
a man of broad and generous culture, an intelligent and loyal 
citizen, and a Christian of a type both rare and beautiful. He 
possessed a discriminating knowledge of religious truth, and, 
while strong in his own convictions, he was tolerant of others. 
In spirit gentle and mild, he was conciliating without compro- 
mise of principle, or harsh in criticism of others' faults. 

If he lacked vigor and ambition to push forward, it was the 
result of temperament and not of mental or moral weakness. 



79 

While not aggressive by nature, he could stand firmly by his 
own convictions amid great opposition, and was seldom at fault 
in his judgment of others. His faults, if any, " leaned to vir- 
tue's side." 

The clock of the New Year of 1884 had struck when, with a 
choice basket of flowers, the gift of friends, I made a New 
Year's call, and with the following lines from a lady friend as 
a fit expression of our friendship and esteem for one who has 
since entered " The garden beyond the iron gate : " 

"Where everlasting spring abides, 
And never-fading flowers. 1 ' 



" ERINNERUNG." 

"GRATITUDE IS THE MEMORY OF THE HEART. 1 ' 

A New Year's greeting, cherished friend, we bring, 
And, while the merry bells ring out the hours, 

We tune the lyre, and our sweet songs we sing; 
We strew the pathway with the choicest flowers. 

With grateful joy thine artist's skill we own ; 

Thine art divine, that spans the abyss of death, 
Brings back to earth the faces we have known, 

And makes them warm again with vital breath. 

From chapel walls the sacred canvas smiles 
Sweet benedictions on the place of prayer; 

Full many a grief thy glowing skill beguiles, 
And fills the heart with angel's visions fair. 

We thank thee for thy generous gift of song ; 

For others' feasting thou hast struck the lyre, 
And now for thee we pour the strains along, 

With praise too faint, yet warm with friendship's fire. 

Against cold winter's pallid cheek we lay 

Our floral offering, bright as bowers of spring ; 

The good dwell ever in the balmy May, 

Though ten times seven the birthday bells may ring. 



8o 



Thy spirit dwells in Beulah land afar ; 

Earth's wildest tempests die away at even ; 
Earth's clanging strifes no more discordant jar 

Thy harp strings, tuned to harmonies of heaven. 

Sweet peace attend thee, and bright visions fair, 
As down life's sunset slope thy footsteps stray. 

May the good Father keep thee in his care, 
Till glory's dawning ushers in the day. 



Alas, ere the glad greetings of the next New Year were 
heard, this gifted painter, poet, friend, had passed beyond the 
pearly gate. Deacon Daniels died November 6, 1884, at the 
age of seventy-one years. At the time of his death he was a 
member of the committee appointed to prepare the " History 
of Medway." To him the editor of this volume is much 
indebted for valuable contributions which were the result of 
his patient research and willing devotion of time and labor. 

M. M. F 



Article in Boston Monthly Magazine for June, 1826, con- 
tributed by the late Judge Theron Metcalf. [See Boston 
Public Library, shelf No. 2, Vol. 5,146, Vol. 1.] 

NOTICE OF JABEZ FISHER. 

The subject of this notice, who was a member of the first Provin- 
cial Congress, a list of whose names was inserted in the April number 
of the Boston Monthly Magazine, was born in Wrentham, in the year 
17 18. He received only a common school education, such as was 
then furnished in country towns ; but from his early years he was dis- 
tinguished for that ready and strong common sense ; that intuitive 
perception of the proper adaptation of means to any proposed end ; 
that discriminating acumen, which, at once, and without any apparent 
effort, severs the sound and practicable from the specious and vis- 
ionary — which detects sophistry and baffles cunning ; that inflexible 
adherence to principle ; that courteousness of manners, and that 
salient and unfaltering desire to be useful, which, through the whole 
course of a protracted life, inspired the confidence, not only of his 



8i 

immediate neighborhood but of the public, and raised him to those 
offices of power and trust, by the faithful and untiring discharge of 
which he became the pride — decics et- tutainen — of his native town and 
a benefactor of his country. 

Mr. Fisher was a representative from the town of Wrentham for 
several years, we believe, under the provincial charter. He was cer- 
tainly a member of that very full house of delegates that assembled at 
Salem on the 7th of October, 1774, and formed themselves into a 
Provincial Congress, and then adjourned to Concord and chose John 
Hancock, president, and Benjamin Lincoln, secretary; of the second 
Provincial Congress, that first met at Cambridge in February, 1775 ; 
of the third, which convened on the last Wednesday of May in the 
same year, and of which Dr. Joseph Warren was elected president. 
This last congress, our readers may recollect, remained in session 
until July 19, when the representatives assembled, who had been 
elected agreeably to the advice of the Continental Congress and the 
provisions of the charter of William and Mary, to constitute a house 
of assembly. Of this house, also, Mr. Fisher was returned a mem- 
ber, and was one of the renowned twenty -eight who were then elected 
counsellors to act as a distinct branch of the legislature, and likewise 
to exercise the executive powers of the government. Among the 
counsellors elected at this time were all the delegates from Massachu- 
setts to the Continental Congress, and who were then attending that 
body at Philadelphia, viz. : John Adams, Samuel Adams, Thomas 
Cushing, Robert Treat Paine, and John Hancock. But on the 
adjournment of the congress at Philadelphia on the 1st of August, 
these gentlemen returned to Massachusetts, and some, if not all of 
them, took their seats in the executive council. They returned to 
Philadelphia on the reassembling of the Continental Congress, on the 
5th of September. 

We here copy from the journal of the house of assembly a resolve 
passed on the 28th of July, as evincive of the spirit of the times, and 
of the confidence reposed in the men who had previously been elected 
counsellors. 

"Whereas by the royal charter it is provided, that when the 
Governor, Lieutenant or Deputy Gov. of this Province shall happen 
to die, be displaced, or be absent from the province, the council 
or assistant, or the major part of them, shall have full power and 
authority to do, and execute all, and every such acts, matters, and 
things which the said Governor or Lieutenant or Deputy Gov. could 
lawfully do or execute ; And whereas the late Governor and Lieu- 
6 



.82 

tenant or Deputy Gov. of this Province have absented themselves, and 
have refused to govern the province according to said charter : 

/'It is therefore Resolved, That until the said Gov., Lieutenant 
Gov., or Deputy Gov., shall return to his or their duty, or some Gov. 
shall be appointed to govern the province, according to the charter 
aforesaid, this house will consider the constitutional council of the 
province, or the major part of them, as Governor of this Province; 
and will acquiesce in whatever said council, or the major part of them 
shall constitutionally do in said capacity." 

To be selected in such times for an office of so great responsibility, 
and to be associated with the members of the constitutional congress 
with James Bowdoin, Benjamin Lincoln, and other ardent patriots 
and wise men, forms in itself an enviable and lasting distinction. 
But the fidelity, zeal, and ability with which Mr. Fisher discharged 
the duties of the office during several successive years of darkness 
and peril that " tried men's souls,' 1 are the true measure of his merit, 
if not of his fame. No member of that honorable board was "in 
labors more abundant" 1 than he. No one's judgment was more 
highly estimated — no one's firmness less distrusted. He was regarded 
as the special watchman of the country part of Suffolk (which at that 
time included the present county of Norfolk, and two towns now 
annexed to Plymouth), and was always relied upon to arrange and 
bring into efficient action all the force, moral and physical, of that 
important section of the province. It is not disparaging the late 
General Lincoln, to affirm a truth which he well knew and which 
never gave him the slightest pain, that Jabez Fisher had far more 
influence than himself among the county members of the assembly. 
Much as was expected and demanded of him, he never disappointed 
any expectation which he had voluntarily excited, nor failed to effect 
any practicable purpose which he deliberately formed. No man 
better knew what was practicable, and no man deliberated more 
thoroughly. 

Mr. Fisher was a member of the convention that formed the con- 
stitution of the commonwealth, and was for several years a senator 
for the county of Suffolk, and a member of the executive council 
under that constitution. He was afterwards for many years a repre- 
sentative from the town .of Franklin (incorporated in 1778 from that 
part of Wrentham in which he resided), and v many of the present 
generation of active men remember the respect which he commanded, 
and the influence which he exerted, in the house of representatives. 
He took a deep interest in provisions for educating the young, and for 



83 

guarding the morals of all. We have seen in the secretary's office 
within four years the preamble to the "act to prevent profane cursing 
and swearing," in Mr. Fisher's well-known handwriting. It is an 
alteration, much for the better, of a preamble to a previous statute on 
the same subject. 

The effort made by Mr. Fisher to excite his neighbors to assist in 
suppressing Shay's insurrection may, at this late day, seem hardly to 
require a mention, or to add anything to his merit. But if we advert 
to the history of those days, and consider the contagious nature of 
insubordination, and the extent to which the poisonhad then operated, 
we shall find reason to bless the memory of every man who assisted to 
stay the plague. 

When the constitution of the United States was submitted to the 
several states for satisfaction and adoption, Mr. Fisher was the delegate 
returned from Franklin to the convention of this state, which assem- 
bled on this important subject, in 1778. Though the delegates from 
the towns contiguous to that which he represented opposed and finally 
voted against the constitution, he, in conformity with the will of his 
constituents — a will which he had greatly contributed to form — and 
the dictates of his own judgment not only recorded his vote in favor of 
adopting that instrument, but by his efforts among a certain class of 
men in the convention, who went there with views utterly hostile to 
the proposed frame of a federal government, but with patriotic hearts, 
and minds fair and open, and to whom he had ready access, he is 
known to have been instrumental, by laboring in season and out of 
season, and by urging his sound, lucid, and enlarged views in effect- 
ing a change in their ultimate opinion. We have heard him relate 
with great apparent satisfaction the movements of the master spirits of 
that convention (to all of which he was privy at the time, and some of 
which he suggested), in order to gain time, and to press conviction 
upon the hopeful part of the anti-federalists. 

This venerable man was once chosen a member of the house of 
representatives after he was eighty years old ; his constituents believ- 
ing he could do more than any man among them towards effecting an 
interesting object which then excited their attention. He protested 
widely against " the folly," as he called it, " of calling up the for- 
gotten dead," but yielded to the importunity of those about him, and 
took his seat. The object which he was elected to accomplish was the 
redemption of some of " the new emission money" — an object which 
he declared to be just, but which he forewarned his constituents could 
never be effected. The prediction was verified. But he consoled 



8 4 

himself and amused others with the reflection which he often repeated, 
" that he was not ashamed of the cause, but that the town ought to be 
ashamed of having chosen such an advocate. 1 ' 

The time which Mr. Fisher was not called to devote to the public 
service, he employed in agricultural pursuits, which were the choice 
of his youth and the amusement of his old age. After he retired 
from public life he took a lively interest in the growth and improve- 
ment of the country, the political events of Europe, and the public 
measures of the governments of his native state and of the Union. 
He had seen so much of John Adams in the days of our struggle with 
Great Britain, had been associated with him so much in the service of 
his country and had so high a veneration for his talents and patriotism, 
that he regarded the loss of Mr. Adams's election to the presidency 
in. 1 80 1 as a public calamity and almost as a loss of the blessings ob- 
tained by the Revolutionary conflict. In a man who had then reached 
his eighty-third year this will not be thought singular by any one, and 
last of all by those who, though in the vigor of their days themselves, 
had sad forebodings on that memorable occasion. 

This eminently useful man died on the fifteenth of October, 1806. 

He left six sons and one daughter, who still survive, all of them 
having reached an advanced age. Two of the sons have often been 
members of the house of representatives of this state. His youngest 
daughter died a short time before her father. His numerous grand- 
children, now in the prime of life, have reason for a rational pride in 
their descent and high motives not to disgrace it. 

To illustrate some traits in the character of Mr. Fisher, on which 
we have not touched, we submit the following extract from a sermon 
now before us, which was preached by his pastor, the Rev. Dr. Em- 
mons, on the next Sabbath after his interment. The character of the 
writer would secure our utmost confidence in the accuracy of his delin-. 
eations, even if we could not add our personal attestation to their 
justice ; and we only regret that the reverend gentleman who so long 
and so intimately knew, and so highly valued the subject of this 
notice, had not given such a detailed account of his life and services 
as would have rendered superfluous on our part, any labor, but 
merely to - request its being transferred into the pages of the 
Magazine for a renewed and perhaps for a more extended diffusion. We 
fervently pray that the time may never come in this commonwealth 
when solid talents and practical wisdom such as the subject of this imper- 
fect notice preeminently possessed, shall cease to recommend men to 
public favor and notice — when empty, shallow, parading demagogues 



85 

shall supplant the men of experience and tried principle. Massachu- 
setts has been rich in the talents and virtues of her sons, and can 
preserve and farther her interests and her reputation only by pursuing 
the same general course which has raised her to the present elevation, 
and by retaining the services of the same class of citizens who have 
heretofore guarded and blessed her counsels. 

He died at the age of 88 years, 10 months and 26 days. 



Extracts from a memorial sermon by Rev. Nathaniel Emmons, 
D. D., on the life of Hon. Jabez Fisher, October 15, 1806, as 
exemplified under the sentiments of a 

PUBLIC SPIRIT. 

v While several qualities of character are required, usefulness is the 
essential in such a spirit, of which he says: "Usefulness forms the 
most beautiful character in the eyes of world as well as in the sight 
of God. 11 He says of the late Honorable Jabez Fisher: " He was 
unquestionably the most useful man among us. His superior abilities 
and integrity raised him to public notice. He was about 20 years 
a member of the house, senate, or of the governors council ; a very 
active and useful member — not by the aid of wealth but by the dint 
of merit. His candor was equal to his moderation and mildness; 
no less judicious than candid, few men possessed a larger share of 
patriotism. He was never ashamed or afraid to do right. 11 Many 
more quotations of similar import might be made. The whole ser- 
mon of twelve pages fairly illustrates the character of the man. 

He had five sons and two daughters. The combined age of 
the sons is 400. year.s, average 80. One daughter, Susan, died at 
89. Mary died in middle age. Four sons were in the War of the 
Revolution. Col. Nathan was in the Battle of Bunker Hill, and a 
representative from Westborough 18 years in succession, save 
one year. 



CONCLUSION. 



BY R. K. H. 



In closing this narrative of the chief events in the life of 
Deacon Fisher, as he is familiarly called in his vicinage, the 
readers indulgence is craved for any errors, omissions, or 
defects that may be discovered therein. 

While the author has been aided in the arrangement and re- 
vision of the work, it is his narrative, of what he has thought, 
felt, and done. 

The fact that it has been compiled from memory, aided by 
records that he has kept in the past, and at the advanced age 
of 91 years, should make it a matter of surprise that there are 
so few blemishes, rather than of criticism that any are found. 
It has been prepared primarily for his family and personal 
friends, also in order that his posterity may know something 
more about this ancestor, than that his name was Milton, 
and that he lived to a great age. 

This book will tell them that he was no modern, neutral- 
tinted Methuselah, but a pioneer in one of the most important 
movements of our national history, and it is the author's hope 
that it may prove a stimulus to some of these to become cham- 
pions in some future moral or social movement, at the time 
when it waits for volunteers. 



